# California Lady Beetle

*Coccinella californica*

Unlike many of its cousins, the California Lady Beetle often lacks spots entirely, presenting a solid, brilliant orange-to-red wing cover.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Coccinellidae › Coccinella
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** decreasing
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Grasslands, coastal sage scrub, meadows, and agricultural fields.
- **Diet:** Carnivorous, primarily consuming aphids, scale insects, and mites.
- **Range:** California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia
- **Size:** 5-8 mm in length
- **Lifespan:** 1-2 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Competition with invasive lady beetle species, heavy pesticide use, and habitat fragmentation.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and beneficial. If handled, they may release a yellow, bitter fluid (reflex bleeding) that can stain skin and smell unpleasant; wash hands with soap and water. They do not sting and rarely bite.

## About

Coccinella californica is a ladybird beetle found in California commonly known as the California Lady Beetle .

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/cd2edde9-6529-4407-a215-36ba50b0faef
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/128712
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinella californica
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/207665470/medium.jpeg (Randal, CC0, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.