Coccinella transversalis

Coccinella transversalis, commonly known as the transverse ladybird[1] or transverse lady beetle[2] is a species of ladybird beetle found from India across southern and southeastern Asia to Malesia and Australia.[1][3] It is not to be confused with Coccinella transversoguttata, a widespread species in Europe and North America also known as the transverse ladybird. The alternative vernacular of small transverse ladybird may be used for C. transversalis in instances where these two species are discussed together.

Coccinella transversalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Coccinella
Species:
C. transversalis
Binomial name
Coccinella transversalis
Fabricius, 1781
Synonyms
  • Coccinella repanda Thunberg, 1781
  • Coccinella contempta Boisduval, 1835

The transverse ladybird was first described by Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1781 as Coccinella transversalis and still bears its original name. Fabricius' description predated Carl Peter Thunberg's naming of this species as C. repanda by several months.[4]

Measuring 3.8 to 6.7 millimetres (0.15 to 0.26 in) long and 3.3 to 5.45 millimetres (0.130 to 0.215 in) wide, the transverse ladybird shows little variation across its wide range.[4] It has a black head with predominantly bright red or orange elytra boldly marked with a black band down the midline and two lateral three-lobed markings.[5]

Prey

Like many species of ladybirds, the transverse ladybird plays an important role in agriculture as it preys on a wide array of plant-eating insects which damage crops, particularly early in the growing season.[6] Among those insects hunted include many species of aphids, including the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), Aphis affinis, cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora), cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), milkweed aphid (Aphis nerii), spirea aphid (Aphis spiraecola), leafcurling plum aphid (Brachycaudus helichrysi), cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), Cervaphis quercus, Cervaphis rappardi indica, turnip aphid (Lipaphis pseudobrassicae), Macrosiphoniella yomogifoliae, potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae), rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae), Melanaphis donacis, Melanaphis sacchari, Myzus nicotianae, green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), Pentalonia nigronervosa, corn aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis), Sitobion rosaeiformis, Taoia indica, Toxoptera aurantii, Therioaphis ononidis, Therioaphis trifolii, Uroleucon compositae and Uroleucon sonchi, species of leafhopper including Empoascanara indica and Idioscopus clypealis, the scale insect species Orthezia insignis, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), and oriental leafworm moth (Spodoptera litura).[5]

References
  1. "Coccinella transversalis Fabricius". CSIRO. 7 July 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  2. Sonya Broughton (2007-04-27). "Image Number: 5186079". Department of Agriculture & Food Western Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  3. "Transverse Ladybird (Coccinella transversalis)". www.ozanimals.com. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  4. Pope, R. D. (1988). "A revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Part 1. Subfamily Coccinellinae". Invertebrate Systematics. 2 (5): 633–735. doi:10.1071/IT9880633.
  5. Poorani, J. (2007). "Coccinella transversalis Fabricius". Aphids of Karnataka. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  6. Entomology Team (Field Crops) (10 February 2010). "Predatory ladybird beetles". Queensland Government: Primary Industries and Fisheries. The State of Queensland (Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation). Archived from the original on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
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