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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Coccinelloidea » Coccinellid group » Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae) » Coccinellinae » Coccinella » pale elytral suture (Coccinella pale elytral suture) » Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
Photo#1232414
Coccinella - Coccinella septempunctata
Copyright © 2016 trinectes

Coccinella - Coccinella septempunctata
Edgewater, SERC, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA
June 2, 2016
Coccinella, possibly septempunctata.

Chowing down on some aphids
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Contributed by trinectes on 2 June, 2016 - 9:15pm
Last updated 3 June, 2016 - 4:38am

Moved, C7
Moved from ID Request.
… Blaine Mathison, 3 June, 2016 - 4:38am login or register to post comments

Were the outer spots teardrop shaped on both sides?
It is still septempunctata, but this is an unusual variation I have never seen before.
… James Bailey, 2 June, 2016 - 9:22pm login or register to post comments

 
septempunctata
Please help me understand your comment: "unusual variation." I want to get better at identifying the lady bugs in my yard. I thought all septempunctata had spots of varying sizes and shapes, but as long as the spots are placed roughly as in this specimen, all was normal. Not true?
… Susan Hare, 3 June, 2016 - 12:29am login or register to post comments

 
There is a lot of variation in the species
You are right, the "spots" can be not only spots but blotches, squares, or ovals. I've never seen one with the front spots shaped like yours though. They are very comma or teardrop shaped.

Is it surprising? No, the markings are variable in this species. But I've never seen markings of that shape over 1000s of individuals, nor have I seen any diagrams of photos showing it before. The other spots are as normal as they can be, it just the front two which are a bit unusual.
… James Bailey, 3 June, 2016 - 12:06pm login or register to post comments

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