Species Olla v-nigrum - Ashy Gray Lady Beetle

Ash Gray / Ashy Grey Lady Beetle

Orig. Comb: Harmonia v-nigrum Mulsant 1866

v-nigrum - Latin for "black v" (1)

1 sp. n. of Mex. (2)

Length 3.7 to 6.1 mm (3)

Polished dorsal surface, and lateral margin of elytron feebly explanate (flared, "helmet-shaped").

Gray with black spots, or black with two red spots. Dorsal figures(3)

"This species has two basic color variants that are strikingly different and I have seen little evidence of intergradation between the variants."

Coast to coast in US, except Maine and Pacific NW / s. to Argentina - Map (3), (2)

BG data: CA-FL-VA-OR

Type Locality: Oaxaca, Mexico

Feb-Dec (BG data)

Dark form can be confused with Chilocorus sp, which have elytra more explanate (appearing more flared) and are a different shape (more "A-frame" basally). Chilocorus sp. never have white markings on head or pronotum.

Both pale and dark forms might be confused with similar forms of Harmonia axyridis, but specific coloration, markings, and shape separate the two. Especially note that O. v-nigrum's spots tend to appear triangular, always with the side sloping away from the suture (where the wings meet) basally. H. axyridis' spots tend to be more of a rounded square.

Mémoires de l'Académie royale des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Lyon, v.15, p.64 - Mulsant's original sp. description in French.