Orlando Ladybug
Who is who
Color is a poor identification. UF/IFAS names Florida lady beetles from the pronotum (the plate behind the head) and from what they do. Draw a line, or copy the letter, from each beetle to the matching clue. Then write one field note: where you would look for that beetle in an Orange, Seminole, or Osceola yard.
| Beetle | Match (A, B, or C) | Clue |
|---|---|---|
| Cycloneda sanguinea Spotless lady beetle |
A. Often orange-red with no spots. Hunts aphids on citrus flush. Native. | |
| Hippodamia convergens Convergent lady beetle |
B. Two pale lines on the pronotum that meet. Takes pollen when prey is scarce. | |
| Harmonia axyridis Multicolored Asian lady beetle |
C. Many color morphs. Often a dark M or W on pale. Clusters in houses when nights cool. |
Field note. If you saw one of these, where was it, and which clue did you use? Do not guess a Latin name from a children’s sticker of seven spots.
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