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Species Anatis labiculata - Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle

15 spot lady beetle? - Anatis labiculata Anatis labiculata - Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle? - Anatis labiculata Lady bug larva - Anatis labiculata Larval Coccinellid - Anatis labiculata Anatis labiculata (Say) - Anatis labiculata Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle - Anatis labiculata Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle - Anatis labiculata Lady Beetle - Anatis labiculata
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 Anatis (Giant Lady Beetles)
Species labiculata (Fifteen-spotted Lady Beetle)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Anatis labiculata (Say)
Orig. Comb: Coccinella labiculata Say, 1824
Size
Length 7.2 to 9.5 mm, width 5.5 to 8.0 mm (1)
Identification

Light gray (f. canadensis) or deep purple (f. caseyi). Fades brown to orange in collections.
Black spots without rings.
Rounded oval shape
Explanate (helmet-shaped profile, with a flared "rim")
Range
Gordon's (1985) suggested range: CO-GA-NB-SK - Map (1)(BG data) - seems to have expanded its range northward since Gordon's publication
Habitat
Arboreal (in trees) in forests and woods
Season
mostly: Apr-Jul (BG data)
Food
Aphids, especially in trees
Remarks
Contrary to some recent belief, the dark form of this species does not represent a darkening with age. Rather, these two forms are distinct and there are few to no intermediates.
See Also
Eye-spotted Lady Beetle, Anatis mali - typically occurs in dark reddish or orange forms with distinct pale rings around the spots. Very dark examples still retain a pale ring that's quite visible, except for extreme instances of fully dark individuals or postmortem. Shape may be less explanate than A. labiculata. Larger range extends north to Nova Scotia and west to Pacific.


Ashy Gray Lady Beetle, Olla v-nigrum - Fewer spots on elytra, more white on pronotum. Much smaller (6mm or less), less explanate shape. Larger range extends south to Florida and west to Pacific.
Internet References
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)