''Propylea dissecta'', is a species of

lady beetle Coccinellidae () is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from . They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain. Some entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as they ...

native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Description

This robust beetle is about 5 to 6 mm in length. Elytra reddish orange in color with black central line. Adults show polymorphism with several intermediate and pale forms.

Biology

Sexual maturity of male and female ladybirds is about 7 and 9 days respectively. Adult males are more willing to mate with females irrespective of age. Mating duration is longest amongst older adults where 30 day-old males and 20 day-old females can be found. Chemical signals as well as visual and tactile cues initiate male attraction toward females. Mating lasted longest about 275 minutes when it occurred between unmated individuals. It is a voracious predator on several aphids such as ''

Aphis gossypii ''Aphis gossypii'' is a tiny insect, an aphid ("greenfly") in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants. It is a widely distributed pest of a variety of agricultural crops in the families Cucu ...

'', ''

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. ...

'', ''

Lipaphis erysimi ''Lipaphis erysimi'' is a species of aphid of the family Aphididae. Its common names include mustard aphid and turnip aphid. It is found in most temperate and tropical areas of the world and feeds only on cruciferous plants. The insects are al ...

'', ''

Uroleucon compositae ''Uroleucon'' is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae. Most species feed on Asteraceae. Species Listed alphabetically within subgenera. *Subgenus ''Belochilum'': **'' Uroleucon inulae'' *Subgenus ''Lambersius'': **'' Uroleucon anomalae'' ...

'', ''

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 ca ...

'', ''

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 zon ...

'' and '' Myzus persicae''.

References

Coccinellidae Insects of Sri Lanka Insects described in 1798 {{Coccinellidae-stub