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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Coccinelloidea » Coccinellid group » Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae) » Scymninae » Hyperaspidini » Sigil Lady Beetles (Hyperaspis) » Hyperaspis trifurcata

Species Hyperaspis trifurcata

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Associated with cochineal on prickly pear - Hyperaspis trifurcata Ladybug, ladybug, what's all that stuff? - Hyperaspis trifurcata Ladybird on cactus - Hyperaspis trifurcata Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer - Hyperaspis trifurcata Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer - Hyperaspis trifurcata Lady beetle associated with cochineal - Hyperaspis trifurcata Coccinellidae sp - Hyperaspis trifurcata Hyperaspis? trifurcata? - Hyperaspis trifurcata
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 Scymninae
Tribe Hyperaspidini
Genus Hyperaspis (Sigil Lady Beetles)
Species trifurcata (Hyperaspis trifurcata)
Other Common Names
Trident Lady Beetle
Explanation of Names
Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer, 1905
trifurcata (L) 'three-forked,' a reference to the trident-like markings
Size
Length 2.3 to 3.0 mm
Width 1.8 to 2.4 mm (1)
Identification
Gordon's figures - The elytral color pattern is somewhat variable, but always distinctive for this species. (1)
Range
mostly s.CA to e.TX, but also FL, SC - Map(2), (see BG Map for e. records) - range has expanded since Gordon's Map (1885) (note dots, not open circles as indicated) (1)
Habitat
Often on prickly pear cactus - Opuntia spp. - due to the preferred host of cochineal scale insects (Dactylopius spp.).
Remarks
Types: One female collected by [Schaeffer] in Brownsville, Texas; another female and one male in Dietz's collection, the former labelled Houston, Texas, and the male, simply Texas. (Schaeffer 1905)
Print References
Schaeffer, C. 1905. Some additional new genera and species of Coleoptera found within the limit of the United States. Brooklyn Institute Museum Science Bulletin 1(7): 141-179 (description p.143). Full Text
Internet References
Type Info - Smithsonian
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.Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 9 October, 2006 - 3:23am
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Harsi S. Parker, James Bailey, Abigail Parker
Last updated 2 February, 2022 - 10:33am

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