Tiny Ladybeetle? - Hyperaspis undulata

Moved

… john and jane balaban, 20 April, 2009 - 8:12pm

Hyperaspis undulata, 99% sure

Hi,

I feel that the wide pale markings on the elytral margin make this a pretty sure bet for H undulata. Perhaps Tim Moyer could have another look now with his additional experience to see if he agrees? Would you like to e-mail him or I could if you prefer...

… Denis A. Doucet, 20 April, 2009 - 10:51am

concur, H. undulata

sometimes a little time past helps.

… Tim R. Moyer, 20 April, 2009 - 7:32pm

Coccinellidae: Hyperaspis sp.

One of the many Hyperaspis. Some persistent person could get pretty close to species using the color pattern and Gordon's revision of the family.

… Donald S. Chandler, 22 April, 2006 - 7:05am

one of 103?

Yikes! Gordon (1) lists 103 Hyperaspis species (and subspecies), including about 10 that ("sometimes") have the lateral vitta entire as shown in your photo + the discal spot. After factoring in locality, H. undulata seems possible, although H. octavia and H. paludicola appear likely also. A dorsal shot would help (H paludicola form is elongate, parallel sided). And yours would have to be a female (dark head and pronotal light markings limited to lateral sides). Asking the Ladybug, "who are you?", might be the easiest approach :)
Tim

… Tim R. Moyer, 25 April, 2006 - 12:58pm

Interesting species

What nice markings on the elytra! The closest I could come was Exochomus marginipennis, which has this sinuate, light-colored marking along the edge of the elytra. Unfortunately E. marginipennis seems to have two round spots per elytron, and the light color does not extend from the margin of the eltytra onto the margin of the pronotum.

All this from a tiny drawing of half the beetle in How to Know the Beetles. Maybe someone else will be able to shed more light. No Exochomus in BugGuide yet.

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

… Stephen Cresswell, 22 April, 2006 - 5:42am