__NOTOC__ ''Cheilomenes'' is a genus of

ladybird Coccinellidae () is a widespread family of small beetles. They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in the United Kingdom; "lady" refers to mother Mary. Entomologists use the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles ...

s (

Coccinellidae Coccinellidae () is a widespread family (biology), family of small beetles. They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in the United Kingdom; "lady" refers to Mary, mother of Jesus, mother Mary. Entomologists use the ...

). Like other members of their subfamily they are large typical ladybirds. They are always shiny and often have bright spots on the

elytra An elytron (; ; : elytra, ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs (Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometime ...

. The common African species ''C. lunata'' is an important predator of the citrus aphid, '' Toxoptera'', and wheat aphid, while ''C. vicina'' has been suggested as a

biological control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or o ...

agent for the cowpea aphid. Both the larvae and adults are predatory. Freshly emerged larvae consume unhatched eggs, and eventually have a dappled appearance and 6 tubercles on each abdominal segment. Vulnerable stages in the life of ''C. sexmaculata'', including oviposition, hatching, moulting and pupation have been shown to occur after dark, probably as an adaptation to avoid exposure to natural enemies.

Gallery

File:75-Indian-Insect-Life - Harold Maxwell-Lefroy - Cheilomenes-sexmaculata.jpg, The Six-spotted zigzag ladybird, ''C. sexmaculata'', of Asia and Australasia File:Six-spotted zigzag ladybirds (Cheilomenes sexmaculata) mating.jpg, ''C. sexmaculata'' at Zighy Bay,

Musandam Peninsula The Musandam Peninsula (), locally known as Ruus Al Jibal ( Capes of the Mountains), is a peninsula that forms the northeastern point of the Arabian Peninsula. Geography The peninsula lies to the south of the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persia ...

Oman Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...

File:Cheilomenes sulfurea 1.jpg, ''C. sulfurea'' at

Chimoio Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province in Mozambique. It is the fifth-largest city in Mozambique. Chimoio's name under Portuguese administration was ''Vila Pery''. Vila Pery developed under Portuguese rule as an important agricultural and t ...

, Mozambique File:Cheilomenes propinqua, m & w, Manie van der Schijff BT, a.jpg, ''C. propinqua'' in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

References

External links

Cheilomenes, Biodiversity explorer
Coccinellidae genera Taxa named by Louis Alexandre Auguste Chevrolat {{Coccinellidae-stub

Gallery

See also

References

External links