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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

Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer - Hyperaspis trifurcata

Ladybird beetle, associated with cochineal - Hyperaspis trifurcata

Lady beetle found in citrus - 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 Cactus Lady

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), most common Hyperaspis sp. in Texas

Habitat

Often on prickly pear cactus - Opuntia spp. (3) - 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)

3.	iNaturalist

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 14 November, 2024 - 11:30pm

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