Explanation of Names
psyllo is Greek for a flea; boreal is Greek for northern.
(1)Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 6 species north of Mexico:
Psyllobora borealis Casey, 1899
Psyllobora nana Mulsant, 1850
Psyllobora parvinotata Casey, 1899
Psyllobora plagiata Schaeffer, 1908
Psyllobora renifer Casey, 1899
Psyllobora vigintimaculata (Say, 1824)
Identification
key to species (adapted from Gordon
(2):
P. vigintimaculata - most of NAmer, except Florida; pronotum always has spots (may be light brown/yellow), elytra markings with various levels of coalescence, can include yellow and orange markings.
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P. nana - Florida - common sutural spot on elytra apical third
P. renifer - LA, across southern TX, NM, and AZ, and up the CA Sierra to Tahoe; looks like a very coalesced P. vigintimaculata.
P. borealis - Pacific and Rocky Mtn states, south to northern AZ/NM; resembles P. vigintimaculata, but has lateral spot behind middle well separated from apical spot; may also have lateral spot connected to discal spot.
P. plagiata - only from southern AZ; elytron with maculae reduced, only subapical spot large; form broadly oval.
P. parvinotata - Florida to Louisiana; pronotum often without spots; otherwise confused with P. vigintimaculata.
Range
Genus ranges from Canada to Mexico (if not further south).
Food
Unlike most ladybirds which feed on aphids, Psyllobora eat mildew.
