Spotted Pink Lady Beetle
Coleomegilla maculata
Unlike most lady beetles, up to 50% of this species' diet can consist of pollen, allowing it to survive even when insect prey is scarce.
- Scientific name
- Coleomegilla maculata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Coccinellidae › Coleomegilla
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Agricultural fields, meadows, gardens, and forest edges where prey is abundant.
- Diet
- Generalist predator eating aphids, mites, and insect eggs, supplemented by a high intake of plant pollen.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- 5-6 mm in length; oval and somewhat flattened body shape.
- Lifespan
- Approximately 1 year
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread pesticide use in agriculture and competition from invasive lady beetle species.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. They do not bite or sting. If handled roughly, they may secrete a yellow, foul-smelling liquid (reflex bleeding) as a defense; wash skin with soap and water if contact occurs.
Coleomegilla maculata , commonly known as the spotted lady beetle , pink spotted lady beetle or twelve-spotted lady beetle , is a large coccinellid beetle native to North America. The adults and larvae feed primarily on aphids and the species has been used as a biological control agent. Based on name connotation and to avoid confusion with other species also called "spotted ladybeetle", spotted pink ladybeetle is probably the most appropriate common name for this species.
Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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