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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Coccinelloidea » Coccinellid group » Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae) » Coccinellinae » Mulsantina » Painted Lady Beetle (Mulsantina picta)

Species Mulsantina picta - Painted Lady Beetle

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)

Superfamily Coccinelloidea

No Taxon (Coccinellid group)

Family Coccinellidae (Lady Beetles)

Subfamily Coccinellinae

Genus Mulsantina

Species picta (Painted Lady Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Mulsantina picta (Randall)

Orig. Comb: Coccinella picta Randall, 1838

Size

Length 3.3 to 5.3 mm,

width 2.2 to 4.0 mm (1)

Identification

Gordon's figures (1)

"The elytral color pattern is extremely variable, but the pronotal markings are quite constant and afford an easy means of recognition." (1)

Venter (underside) distinctive:

"When the underside is examined, the yellow markings of metasternum, metepisterna, and the pronotal venter are only found in this species." (Donald S. Chandler, comment)

Range

mostly in or near boreal forests of w. N. Amer. with scattered ne US records - Map (2)(3)

Gordon's historical Map is out of date (1)

Habitat

in or near boreal forests (2)

Remarks

Type locality: Chelsea Beach, Massachusetts (1)

Print References

Chapin, J.B. 1985. Revision of the genus Mulsantina Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 78(3): 348-368. (3)

Randall, J. 1838. Descriptions of new species of coleopterous insects inhabiting the State of Massachusetts. Boston Jour. Nat. Hist. 2: 34-52.

Works Cited

1.	The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America North of Mexico Robert D. Gordon. 1985. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, Vol. 93, No. 1.

2.	The Lost Ladybug Project (LLP)

3.	Revision of the genus Mulsantina Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Chapin, J.B. 1985. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 78(3): 348-368.

Contributed by Joel Kits on 24 April, 2005 - 8:26pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, Abigail Parker
Last updated 26 February, 2015 - 12:46pm

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