Henosepilachna argus (Geoffory in Fourcroy, 1762)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Cucujoidea > Coccinellidae > Henosepilachna > Henosepilachna argus

Common name: 

Bryony Ladybird

Images

Henosepilachna argus
Source:
Paul Mabbott
Henosepilachna argus
Source:
Lech Borowiec
Source:
Yvonne Crouch
Source:
Gilles San Martin
Source:
Yvonne Crouch
Source:
Mark Hows
Source:
Mark Hows
Source:
Mark Hows
Henosepilachna argus
Source:
Jeroen Mentens

Description

Length: 5 - 7mm.  Background colour: orange.  Pattern colour: black spots.  Number of spots: 11.  Spot fusions: rare.  Melanic (black) forms: no.  Pronotum: orange.  Leg colour: orange.  Other features: elytra covered in short downy hairs.

Fourth-instar larva: pale yellow with dark tubercles, bearing tall black branching spines.  Pupa: pale yellow with small black spots; partially covered by shed larval skin at base.

Biology

Habitats: In Britain the bryony ladybird is found in urban habitats, commonly gardens and carparks.  However, in Surrey there are recent sightings from more natural habitats on chalk and sand.

Host plants: In Britain it feeds solely on white bryony but in other parts of Europe it has been noted feeding on melons.

Food: leaves of white bryony and other curcurbits.  

Overwintering sites: Bryony ladybirds overwinter in low herbage. 

Articles

Prance, D.A. (2001). Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) (Coccinellidae) in Middlesex. The Coleopterist 10(1): 4.
Menzies, I.S. & B.Spooner, B.M. (2000). Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) (Coccinellidae, Epilachninae), a phytophagous ladybird new to the U.K., breeding at Molesey, Surrey. The Coleopterist 9(1): 1.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)