Explanation of Names
Exochomus childreni childreni Mulsant, 1850
Identification
Orange to red, always with two black spots at rear of body (subapical)
May also have two black markings near center of body, which may connect to the rear markings as a black band.
Head and pronotum black in both sexes
Legs black in both sexes
Remarks
"
E. c. childreni appears to be restricted to Florida where the normal color form [two subapical spots] cannot be confused with that of any other coccinellid. The 4-spotted or 4-banded forms however, resemble
E. marginipennis which also occurs in Florida." - Gordon, 1985, p. 627.
(1)
Both males and females have black head and pronotum, unlike E. childreni guexi and other Exochomus species, where males have pale markings on head and pronotum. Females of those species may have black head and pronotum, or pale markings that are different from the male's.
Both males and females have black legs; males of E. childreni guexi and E. marginipennis have yellow legs. (Females of E. c. guexi and E. marginipennis have black legs, so this characteristic is only useful in distinguishing males.)
Print References
Mulsant, M. E. 1850. Species de Coleopteres trimeres securipalpes. Ann. Sci. Phys. Nat. Lyon 2: 1-1104.
Contributed by
Abigail Parker on 12 January, 2010 - 11:10am
Additional contributions by
Mike QuinnLast updated 26 October, 2014 - 7:37pm