Species Anatis mali - Eye-spotted Lady Beetle

American Eyespot Ladybug (1)

(may be preferred, given similarity and confusion with the "Eyed ladybug" of Europe, A. ocellata).

Anatis mali (Say)

Orig. Comb: Coccinella mali Say, 1825

Perhaps from Latin mali- "of apple"

Length 7.3 to 10.0 mm

Yellow to brownish-red (darkens with age)

Black spots surrounded by pale rings

Rounded oval shape

Slightly explanate (helmet-shaped, with a slightly flared "rim")

Map - Ontario to British Columbia, south to Virginia and Oregon.

Typically arboreal, preferring canopies of trees, but may be found lower.

Aphids, especially on trees.

This species is most similar to the European A. ocellata which, if it were to occur in the US, is distinguished by characters of the elytral pattern and generally lighter red colouration. It may also be distinguished through literature by genitalia.

Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle, Anatis labiculata - most often seen in a diagnostic light grey form. Another form, f. caseyi, is almost solidly dark. In both forms, spots lack distinctive rings. Intermediate orange or brown forms are usually postmortem or otherwise uncommon. Theoretical extreme dark examples of both species are likely indistinguishable. Range limited to eastern and central US and southeastern Canada.

Anatis rathvoni - A more orange species with reduced spots, usually with rings but more subtle. The shape of this species is more explanate and angular. Range limited to southwestern Canada, northwestern US, and parts of California.

Two-spotted Lady Beetle, Adalia bipunctata - A much smaller and more oval species with a differing pattern -- spots may be similar in appearance, but are often far fewer, and always differently positioned.

Gordon, 1985, especially pp. 762-763, figures 623-625.(2)

Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, v.4,p.93 - Say's original description of the species