Four-spot ladybird

Description

Harmonia quadripunctata, the cream-streaked lady beetle or four-spot ladybird, is a species of ladybird belonging to the family Coccinellidae. Harmonia quadripunctata is a large Coccinellid with a length of 5.5–6 millimetres (0.22–0.24 in). The colouration is very variable. The species is typically bright red, brown or yellow, although some individuals with greatly expanded dark patches appear almost completely black. The common name "cream-streaked" is in reference to the vertical pale lines present on many individuals. Although the base pattern consists of 18 black spots, many individuals do not show all 18 markings. The 2 marginal spots on each elytron frequently show even in the lightest marked individuals, hence the species epithet quadripunctata. The pronotum is not very variable, with a consistent pattern of 11 markings, 5 of which are large and bold. The underside of H5 is dark with orange-brown sides, as in most Harmonia. Lighter specimens with limited spots may be similar to H. axyridis, but the pronotum and elytral pattern does not overlap. The four-spot ladybird is a predator of various species of aphids such as Lachnus pinicola. The period of activity extend from March to October. These beetles over-winter in communities under the bark of various deciduous and coniferous trees such as pines and poplars. Harmonia quadripunctata is widespread from northern to southern Europe. In the British Isles the four-spot ladybird is found only sporadically. The species is also present in the eastern Palearctic realm and in the Near East. These ladybirds live in pine forests from the lowlands to the hills. Harmonia is a genus of lady beetles belonging to the subfamily Coccinellinae. The distinction of the individual species within the genus is often very difficult, and in some cases requires examination of the reproductive system. The coloring and drawing in the genus Harmonia are very variable, not only between species, but also within each species. The basic color of the elytra is usually red to orange with black spots. The patches can be linked together to form black bars. The species can reach a length of 3 to 7 mm. The rear edge of the pronotum is slightly curved. The antennae are a little shorter than the head and are composed of eleven segments. The three last segments are thickened at the tip and form a club.