Coccinellidae
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225892369
2008-07-15T22:00:25Z
Diligent Terrier
2499413
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/71.53.216.128|71.53.216.128]] to last version by Diligent Terrier (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{redirect2|Ladybird|ladybug|ladybird}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Coccinellidae
| image = Ladybird.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Coccinella septempunctata]]''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[beetle|Coleoptera]]
| superfamilia = [[Cucujoidea]]
| familia = '''Coccinellidae'''
| familia_authority = [[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1807
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
[[Chilocorinae]]<br>
[[Coccidulinae]]<br>
[[Coccinellinae]]<br>
[[Epilachninae]]<br>
[[Scymininae]]<br>
[[Sticholotidinae]]<br>
etc.
''see [[list of Coccinellidae genera]]''
}}
{{wikispecies|Coccinellidae}}
[[Image:Coccinellidae (Ladybug) Anatomy.svg|thumb|Basic anatomy of a ladybird]]
[[Image:Pupal stage 2.jpg|thumbnail|Early larva stage]]
[[Image:LarveCoccinelle(s).jpg|thumbnail|Mid-larva stage]]
[[Image:Ladybird Pupate.jpg|thumbnail|Pupal stage]]
[[Image:MarienkäferEier 03.JPG|thumb| eggs]]
'''Coccinellidae''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[beetle]]s, known variously as '''ladybirds''' ([[British English]], [[Australian English]], [[South African English]]), '''ladybugs''' ([[North American English]]) or '''lady beetles''' (preferred by some scientists). The family name comes from its [[type genus]], ''[[Coccinella]]''. Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 5,000 [[species]] described<ref>Judy Allen & Tudor Humphries (2000). ''Are You A Ladybug?'', Kingfisher, p. 30</ref>, more than 450 native to [[North America]] alone. Coccinellids are small [[insect]]s, ranging from [[1 E-3 m|1 mm to 10 mm]] (0.04 to 0.4 inches), and are commonly yellow, orange, or scarlet with small black spots on their [[elytra|wing covers]], with black legs, head and [[antenna (biology)|antennae]]. A very large number of species are mostly or entirely black, gray, or brown and may be difficult for non-[[entomologist]]s to recognize as coccinellids (and, conversely, there are many small beetles that are easily mistaken as such, like [[tortoise beetle]]s).
Coccinellids are generally considered useful insects as many species feed on [[aphid]]s or [[scale insect]]s, which are pests in gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and similar places. The [[Mall of America]], for instance, releases thousands of ladybugs into its indoor park as a natural means of pest control for its gardens<ref>Matthew Power, "Top Tech City: Minneapolis, MN", PopSci.com (http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2005-03/top-tech-city-minneapolis-mn?page=4), accessed April 19 2008</ref>. Some people consider seeing them or having them land on one's body to be a sign of good [[luck]] to come, and that killing them presages bad luck. A few species are pests in North America and Europe.
==Biology==
Coccinellids are typically [[predator]]s of [[Hemiptera]] such as aphids and scale insects, though members of the subfamily [[Epilachninae]] are [[herbivore]]s, and can be very destructive [[agricultural pest]]s (e.g., the [[Mexican bean beetle]]). They are also known to eat certain plants and crops when no other food is present, making them a possible pest to farmers and gardeners. While they are often used as [[biological control]] agents, introduced species of ladybirds (such as ''[[Harmonia axyridis]]'' or ''[[Coccinella septempunctata]]'' in [[North America]]) can outcompete and displace native coccinellids, and become pests in their own right.
Coccinellids are often brightly colored to ward away potential predators. This defense works because most predators associate bright colors (especially orange and black or yellow and black) with poison and other unpleasant properties. This phenomenon is called [[aposematism]]. In fact, most coccinellids are indeed poisonous to smaller predators, such as lizards and small birds; however, a human would have to eat several hundred coccinellids before feeling any effects.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Adult coccinellids are able to [[reflex-bleed]] [[hemolymph]] from their leg joints, releasing their oily yellow toxin with a strong repellent smell. This becomes quite obvious when one handles a coccinellid roughly.
Most coccinellids mate in spring or summer and the female lays a cluster of eggs (numbering from a few to a few hundred, depending on species) as near as possible to an aphid colony. In most species these eggs hatch into a [[larva|larval state]] within a week. This state lasts 10–15 days, and they then go into a [[pupae|pupal]] stage before becoming an adult coccinellid. The entire [[biological life cycle|life cycle]] of the Coccinellid is only 4–7 weeks. Most ladybird species are [[univoltine]], producing only one generation a year, although some are [[bivoltine]].
Coccinellids lay extra infertile eggs with the fertile eggs. These appear to provide a backup food source for the larvae when they hatch. The ratio of infertile to fertile eggs increases with scarcity of food at the time of egg laying.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |author=J. Perry & B. Roitberg |year=2005 |title=Ladybird mothers mitigate offspring starvation risk by laying trophic eggs |journal=[[Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology]] |volume=58 |pages=578–586 |doi=10.1007/s00265-005-0947-1}}</ref>
Some species are [[migratory]] and form large [[swarm|aggregation]]s during the migratory period. They also form large aggregations when they go into [[hibernation]] in Winter.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |author=A. Honek, Z. Martinkova & S. Pekar |year=2007 |title=Aggregation characteristics of three species of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) at hibernation sites |journal=[[European Journal of Entomology]] |volume=104 |issue=1 |pages=51–56 |url=http://www.eje.cz/pdfarticles/1197/eje_104_1_051_Honek.pdf}}</ref>
==Habitats==
Most coccinellids are beneficial to gardeners in general, as they feed on [[aphid]]s, [[scale insect]]s, [[mealybug]]s, and [[mite]]s throughout the year. As in many insects, ladybirds in temperate regions enter [[diapause]] during the winter, so they often are among the first insects to appear in the spring. Some species (e.g., ''[[Hippodamia convergens]]'') gather into groups and move to higher land, such as a mountain, to enter diapause. Predatory ladybirds are usually found on plants where aphids or scale insects are, and they lay their eggs near their prey, to increase the likelihood the larvae will find the prey easily. Ladybirds are cosmopolitan in distribution, as are their prey.
==Coccinellids as household pests==
Although native species of coccinellids are typically considered benign, in North America the Asian lady beetle ''([[Harmonia axyridis]]),'' introduced in the twentieth century to control [[aphids]] on agricultural crops, has become a serious household [[Pest (organism)|pest]] in some regions owing to its habit of overwintering in structures. It is similarly acquiring a pest reputation in Europe, where it is called the "Multicoloured Asian Ladybird" (In Britain: "Harlequin Ladybird") (see main article "[[Asian lady beetle]]" for discussion).
==Coccinellids in popular culture==
Coccinellids are and have for very many years been favourite insects of children. The insects had many regional names (now mostly disused) such as the lady-cow, may-bug, golden-knop, golden-bugs ([[Suffolk]]); and variations on Bishop-Barnaby ([[Norfolk dialect]]) - (Barney, Burney) Barnabee, Burnabee, and the Bishop-that-burneth.
The ladybird is immortalised in the still-popular children's [[nursery rhyme]] ''[[Ladybird, Ladybird]]'':
{{cquote|Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home<br/>
Your house is on fire and your children are gone<br/>
All except one, and that's Little Anne<br/>
For she has crept under the warming pan.}}
Many variants exist, including one that seems ancient (recounted in an [[1851]] publication):
{{cquote|Dowdy-cow, dowdy-cow, ride away heame,<br/>
Thy house is burnt, and thy bairns are tean,<br/>
And if thou means to save thy bairns<br/>
Take thy wings and flee away!}}
[[Image:Coccinella septempunctata couple (aka).jpg|thumb|''[[Coccinella septempunctata]]'' pair ''[[sexual intercourse|in copulo]]'']]
The name that the insect bears in the various languages of [[Europe]] is [[Mythology|mythic]]. In this, as in other cases, the [[Virgin Mary]] has supplanted [[Freyja]], the [[fertility]] [[goddess]] of [[Norse mythology]]; so that ''Freyjuhaena'' and ''Frouehenge'' have been changed into ''Marienvoglein'', which corresponds with [[Our Lady]]'s Bird. The esteem with which these insects are regarded has roots in ancient beliefs.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Notes and Queries]] |volume=9 |date=[[1849-12-29]]|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13521 |title=Bishop Barnaby}}</ref>
In [[Irish language|Irish]], the insect is called ''bóín Dé'' — or "[[God]]'s little cow"; similarly, in [[Croatian language|Croatian]] it is called ''Božja ovčica'' ("God's little sheep"). In [[France]] it is known as ''bête à bon Dieu'', "the Good Lord's animal",<ref name ="wex"/> and in [[Russia]], ''Божья коровка'' ("God's little cow"),<ref name ="wex"/> while in [[Yiddish]], it is called "[[Moshe Rabbenu]]'s little cow" or "Moshe Rabbenu's little horse", apparently an adaptation of the Russian name, or sometimes "Little [[Messiah]]".<ref name ="wex">''Born to Kvetch'', [[Michael Wex]], St. Martin's Press, New York, 2005, ISBN 0-312-30741-1</ref>
In parts of [[Northern Europe]], tradition says that one's wish granted if a ladybird lands on oneself (this tradition lives on in North America, where children capture a ladybird, make a wish, and then "blow it away" back home to make the wish come true). In [[Italy]], it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into one's bedroom, it is considered good luck. In [[central Europe]], a ladybird crawling across a girl's hand is thought to mean she will get married within the year. In some cultures they are referred to as '''lucky bugs''' (Turkish: ''uğur böceği'').
In Russia, a popular children's rhyme exists with a call to fly to the sky and bring back bread; similarly, in Denmark a ladybird, called a ''mariehøne'' ("Mary's hen"), is asked by children to fly to 'our lord in heaven and ask for fairer weather in the morning'.
In [[Greece]], ladybirds are called ''πασχαλίτσα'' (''[[Easter|paschalitsa]]''), because they are found abundantly in [[Easter]]time, along with ''paschalia'', the [[Common Lilac]] plant, which flowers at the same time.
In [[Malta]], the ladybird is called '''nannakola''', and until a few years ago little children sang: ''Nannakola, mur l-iskola/Aqbad siġġu u ibda ogħla'' (Ladybird go to school, get a chair and start jumping).
*The ladybird is the symbol of the Dutch [[Foundation Against Senseless Violence]], as can be seen in the [http://lasvegas.bazoon.nl/zinloosgeweld/zgcore/script/faq_get_image.asp?questionset_id=421&volgnr=1 logo].
*Other companies using ladybirds as their corporate logo include: [[Ladybird Books]] (owned by [[Pearson PLC]]); the Ladybird range of children's clothing sold by [[Woolworths Group plc|Woolworth's]] in the UK; the Polish supermarket chain [[Biedronka]] and the software development firm [[Axosoft]].
*The British band [[XTC]] included a song called "Ladybird," an affectionate ode to the insect, on their 1983 album ''[[Mummer (album)|Mummer]]''.
*The ladybird is a symbol of the [[Politics of Finland|Finnish]] [[Swedish People's Party (Finland)|Swedish People's Party]].
*The British band [[The Fall (band)|The Fall]] included a song called "Ladybird (Green Grass)," on their 1993 album ''[[The Infotainment Scan (album)|The Infotainment Scan]]''.
*In the popular [[Pixar]] [[animated film]], ''[[A Bug's Life]]'', Francis the Ladybug is an aggressive male [[flea circus]] performer who is deeply annoyed when his gender is confused.
*The [[Pokémon]] [[Ledyba]] and [[Ledian]] are both based on the ladybird. The [[Digimon]] [[Tentomon]] also bears resemblance to a ladybird.
*''[[The Bad-Tempered Ladybird]]'' is a book by [[Eric Carle]].
*Many states in the [[U.S.]] have chosen a ladybird<!-- Wait, you're using the British term in relation to the U.S.? *facepalms* --> species as their [[List of U.S. state insects|state insect]]; [[Delaware]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New Hampshire]], [[New York]], [[Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Tennessee]].
*''[[Ladybugs (film)|Ladybugs]]'' is a 1992 movie starring [[Rodney Dangerfield]].
* A ladybird appears in each of artists [[Michael Quinlyn-Nixon]]'s illustrations.
* In the mid 1980's, presenter and TV producer [[Muriel Young]], made two series of programmes entitled 'Ladybirds', a [[Channel 4]] programme from [[Mike Mansfield]]'s independent company, in which she interviewed female singers, including [[Barbara Dickson]], [[Elaine Paige]] and [[Kiki Dee]], as well as American and French stars [[Rita Coolidge]] and [[Jane Birkin]].
== Gallery ==
<center>
<gallery>
Image:Propylea_Quattuordecimpunctata.jpg|Close up of ''[[Propylea quatuordecimpunctata]]'', the P-14 coccinellid.
Image:Coccinelle1.jpg|Pupal stage of a coccinellid
Image:Colorado_ladybugs.jpg|''[[Hippodamia (genus)|Hippodamia]]'' overwintering ''en masse'' ([[Colorado Springs, Colorado]])
Image:Unusual pattern.jpg|''[[Neoharmonia venusta]]''
Image:Ladybird on pine cone.jpg|''[[Anatis]]'' on a pine cone
Image:Coccinellid unusual pattern.jpg|''[[Coccinella]]'' species from the U.S.
Image:P-14 lady beetle.jpg|P-14 coccinellid consuming an [[aphid]]
Image:Lady-beetle-larvae-just-hatched.jpg|Larvae just hatched from their eggs
Image:Lady-beetle-close-up.jpg|''[[Coccinella septempunctata]]''
Image:Lady beetle taking flight.jpg|''[[Harmonia axyridis]]'' deploying wings
Image:Ladybug_flower_bed.jpg|''[[Hippodamia (genus)|Hippodamia]]'' hiding within a flower bud
Image:sa_lady-beetle-larva.jpg|Lady beetle larva eating an [[aphid]]
Image:NKN-2007-08-20 114240 ladybugs coccinelle (Yvan Leduc author for Wikipedia).jpg|''[[Coccinella septempunctata]]'' ([[Canada]])
Image:Ladybug renton-wa.jpg|''[[Coccinella]]'' on peony (''[[Paeonia]]'') bud; Renton, Washington, U.S.
</gallery>
</center>
<br>
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Coccinellidae}}
{{Wikispecies}}
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/412.shtml BBC Science & Nature: 7-spotted ladybird]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_ladybird.htm Ladybugs of North America — diagnostic photographs]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_multicolored_Asian_ladybird.htm Multicolored Asian ladybug ''Harmonia axyridis'' male and female specimens photos]
* [http://www.earthlife.net/insects/coccinel.html Ladybirds page on The Earth Life Web]
*[http://enature.com/fieldguides/view_default.asp?allSpecies=y&searchText=ladybug Ladybeetles on eNature]
* [http://www.harlequin-survey.org Harlequin Ladybird survey in the British Isles]
* [http://home.ptd.net/~insect/ladybug.html Unofficial Homepage to the Asian ladybird beetle]
* [http://www.lady-bugs.org/ General Information on Ladybugs (Asian LadyBeetle)]
* [http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/ladybintro.html Biological control: Predators: Lady beetles] Cornell University's ''Guide to natural enemies in North America''
* [http://www.phil.uni-passau.de/didaktik_natw/fuersch/taxonomy.html Taxonomy of coccinellids]
[[Category:Coccinellidae| ]]
[[Category:Beetles]]
[[Category:Biological pest control agents]]
[[Category:Symbols of Ohio]]
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