Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
First taxonomically valid description by
Filippo Silvestri in 1909 as
Chilocorus kuwanae
Synonyms:
Chilocorus similis var. japonicus Sicard, 1907
Chilocorus similis Lewis, 1896 (not similis Rossi, 1790)
Chilocorus renipustulatus Lewis, 1873 (not renipustulatus Scriba, 1792)
Explanation of Names
Named for the Japanese entomologist Shinkai Inokichi Kuwana (1872-1933), a specialist in scale insects, the favorite prey of this lady beetle.
Size
Length 3.0 to 4.75 mm, width 2.90 to 4.50 mm.
(1)Identification
Similar to native "black with two red spots" Chilocorus species, but can be distinguished from all of them by three key differences:
Spots are located at the middle or slightly behind the middle of each elytron.
Lateral margin of elytron is more strongly flared (helmet-shaped with a larger "brim").
Spots are squared-off and roughly rectangular, not smoothly round or oval.
(1)
Additional identification factors:
Abdomen yellow or red, contrasting with black head and thorax in ventral (underside) view.
Head dull, strongly alutaceous with punctures extremely close together.
Pronotum with punctures fine and widely separated.
(1)Range
Non-native; introduced throughout North America.
Habitat
Arboreal (in trees) where scale insects are found.
Food
Scale insects, especially armored (hard) scales.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid singly under the hard "shell" of a scale insect, which provides protection and an immediate meal for the newly-hatched larva. While small, the larvae continue to feed under the scales; as they mature they develop long, protective spines and feed outside their prey. Pupation takes place inside the last larval "skin." Adults emerge about a week later.
Click on an image below to view the Life Cycle:
Remarks
Introduced from Japan and Korea, originally to California as Chilocorus similis Rossi. Now established across North America.
Print References
Gordon, 1985, especially pp. 652-653, figure 536.
(1)
Drea, J., and Carlson, R. 1987. The establishment of Chilocorus kuwanae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Eastern United States. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 89:821-824.
Carpenter, M.M. 1945. Bibliography of biographies of entomologists. The American Midland Naturalist 33: 1-116.
Internet References
Cornell University - biocontrol fact sheet, including history of introduction and description of life cycle.
