''Coccinella transversalis'', commonly known as the transverse ladybird
or transverse lady beetle, is a species of
ladybird beetle found from India across southern and southeastern Asia to
Malesia
Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms. It is a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical kingdom. It was first recognized as a distinct region ...
and Australia.
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.
The transverse ladybird was first described by Danish zoologist
Johan Christian Fabricius
Johann Christian Fabricius (7 January 1745 – 3 March 1808) was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others. He was a student of Carl Linnaeus, and is co ...
in 1781 as ''Coccinella transversalis'' and still bears its original name. Fabricius' description predated
Carl Peter Thunberg
Carl Peter Thunberg, also known as Karl Peter von Thunberg, Carl Pehr Thunberg, or Carl Per Thunberg (11 November 1743 – 8 August 1828), was a Sweden, Swedish Natural history, naturalist and an Apostles of Linnaeus, "apostle" of Carl Linnaeus ...
's naming of this species as ''C. repanda'' by several months.
Description
Measuring long and wide, the transverse ladybird shows little variation across its wide range.
[ It has a black head with predominantly bright red or orange ]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 ...
boldly marked with a black band down the midline and two lateral three-lobed markings.
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. Among those insects hunted include many species of aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white Eriosomatinae, woolly ...
s, including the pea aphid (''Acyrthosiphon pisum
''Acyrthosiphon pisum'', commonly known as the pea aphid (and colloquially known as the green dolphin, pea louse, and clover louse), is a sap-sucking insect in the family Aphididae. It feeds on several species of legumes (plant family Fabaceae) w ...
''), ''Aphis affinis
''Aphis affinis'' is an aphid of the family Aphididae. The species was described by Giacomo del Guercio in 1911. It is found in southern Europe, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Ladybird predator species of ''A. affinis'' include '' B ...
'', cowpea aphid (''Aphis craccivora
''Aphis craccivora'', variously known as the cowpea aphid, groundnut aphid or black legume aphid, is a true bug in the family ''Aphididae''. Originally of probable Palearctic origin, it is now an invasive species of cosmopolitan distribution.
...
''), cotton aphid (''Aphis gossypii
''Aphis gossypii'' is a tiny insect, an aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The grou ...
''), milkweed aphid (''Aphis nerii
''Aphis nerii'' is an aphid of the Family (biology), family Aphididae. Its common names include oleander aphid, milkweed aphid, sweet pepper aphid, and nerium aphid.
Distribution
The oleander aphid is widespread in regions with tropical and Med ...
''), spirea aphid (''Aphis spiraecola
''Aphis spiraecola'' is a species of aphid described in 1914 by Edith Marion Patch. Its common names include green citrus aphid, Spirea aphid, and apple aphid. It is distributed worldwide, and is most abundant in the United States. It has a dip ...
''), leafcurling plum aphid ('' Brachycaudus helichrysi''), cabbage aphid (''Brevicoryne brassicae
''Brevicoryne brassicae'', commonly known as the cabbage aphid or cabbage aphis, is a destructive aphid (plant louse) native to Europe that is now found in many other areas of the world. The aphids feed on many varieties of produce, including cab ...
''), '' Cervaphis quercus'', ''Cervaphis rappardi indica
Cervaphis is a genus of aphids of the family Aphididae
The Aphididae are a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily ( Aphidoidea), of the order Hemiptera. These insects suck the sap from plant leaves. Several thousand species are pl ...
'', turnip aphid (''Lipaphis pseudobrassicae
''Lipaphis pseudobrassicae'' is an aphid of the family Aphididae. Its common name is turnip aphid. The aphid can feed on multiple ''Brassica
''Brassica'' () is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members ...
''), ''Macrosiphoniella yomogifoliae
''Macrosiphoniella yomogifoliae'' is a species of aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. ...
'', potato aphid (''Macrosiphum euphorbiae
''Macrosiphum euphorbiae'', the potato aphid, is a sap-sucking pest insect in the family Aphididae. It infests potatoes and a number of other commercially important crops.
Distribution
''Macrosiphum euphorbiae'' originated in North America but ...
''), rose aphid (''Macrosiphum rosae
''Macrosiphum rosae'', the rose aphid, is a species of sap-sucking Aphidoidea, aphids in the subfamily Aphidinae. They have a world-wide distribution and infest rosebushes as the main host in spring and early summer, congregating on the tips of s ...
''), ''Melanaphis donacis
''Melanaphis'' is a genus of true bugs belonging to the family Aphididae.
The genus has cosmopolitan distribution, native to the Old World, far more diverse in southeastern Asia.
Species:
*'' Melanaphis arthraxonophaga''
*'' Melanaphis arundi ...
'', ''Melanaphis sacchari
The sugarcane aphid, (''Melanaphis sacchari''), is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants. It is mostly found in '' Saccharum'' and ''Sorghum'' species. The species primarily re ...
'', ''Myzus nicotianae
''Myzus'' is a genus of true bugs belonging to the family Aphididae.
The genus has cosmopolitan distribution. Its original distribution is the Old World.
Species:
*'' Myzus ajugae''
*'' Myzus amygdalinus''
*'' Myzus antirrhinii''
*'' Myzus ...
'', green peach aphid (''Myzus persicae
''Myzus persicae'', known as the green peach aphid, greenfly, or the peach-potato aphid, is a small green aphid belonging to the order Hemiptera. It is the most significant aphid pest of peach trees, causing decreased growth, shrivelling of the ...
''), ''Pentalonia nigronervosa
''Pentalonia nigronervosa'', the banana aphid, is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap mainly from ''Musa'' species.
Host plants
Also known to infest '' Alpinia purpurata'', '' Xanthosoma ...
'', corn aphid (''Rhopalosiphum maidis
''Rhopalosiphum maidis'', common names corn leaf aphid and corn aphid, is an insect, and a pest of maize and other crops. It has a nearly worldwide distribution and is typically found in agricultural fields, grasslands, and forest-grassland zone ...
''), '' Sitobion rosaeiformis'', '' Taoia indica'', '' Toxoptera aurantii'', '' Therioaphis ononidis'', '' Therioaphis trifolii'', '' Uroleucon compositae'' and '' Uroleucon sonchi'', species of leafhopper
Leafhopper is the common name for any species from the family (biology), family Cicadellidae: based on the type genus ''Cicadella''. These minute insects, colloquially known as hoppers, are plant feeders that suck plant sap from grass, shrubs, or ...
including '' Empoascanara indica'' and '' Idioscopus clypealis'', the scale insect species '' Orthezia insignis'', the Asian citrus psyllid (''Diaphorina citri
''Diaphorina citri'', the Asian citrus psyllid, is a sap-sucking, hemipteran bug now in the taxonomic family Liviidae. It is one of two confirmed vectors of citrus greening disease. It has a wide distribution in southern Asia and has spread to ...
''), the cotton bollworm (''Helicoverpa armigera
''Helicoverpa armigera'' is a species of Lepidoptera in the family Noctuidae. It is known as the cotton bollworm, corn earworm, Old World (African) bollworm, or scarce bordered straw (the lattermost in the UK, where it is a migrant). The larvae ...
''), and oriental leafworm moth (''Spodoptera litura
''Spodoptera litura'', otherwise known as the tobacco cutworm or cotton leafworm, is a nocturnal moth in the family Noctuidae. ''S. litura'' is a serious polyphagous pest in Asia, Oceania, and the Indian subcontinent that was first described by ...
'').
References
External links
Killer Ladybirds
at www.abc.net.au/science
Coccinella transversalis
at Atlas of Living Australia
The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is an online repository of information about Australian plants, animals, and fungi. Development started in 2006. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an organisation sign ...
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q309705
Coccinellidae
Beetles of Australia
Beetles of Asia
Insects of Sri Lanka
Beetles described in 1781
Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius