Explanation of Names
Chilocorus kuwanae Silvestri, 1909
patronym for Japanese entomologist Shinkai Inokichi Kuwana (1872-1933), a specialist in scale insects, the favorite prey of this lady beetle.
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 - apparently only a few N. Amer. coastal iNat records -
Map (2)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.
See Also
Chilocorus tumidus has oblong markings that may be squared-off and rectangular, but overall shape is round, not tapered toward the rear of the body, and ventral red area is a lighter orange-red.
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.
BioStor
Carpenter, M.M. 1945. Bibliography of biographies of entomologists. The American Midland Naturalist 33: 1-116.
Nalepa CA, Bambara SB, Burrought AM. 1992. Pollen and nectar feeding by Chilocorus kuwanae (Silvestri) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 94: 596–597.
Internet References
Cornell University - biocontrol fact sheet, including history of introduction and description of life cycle.
