| Fungus-eating Ladybird | |
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| Species: | I. galbula
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| Binomial name | |
| Illeis galbula (
Mulsant, 1850)
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Description
The Fungus-eating Ladybird (Illeis galbula) is a species of beetle in the family Coccinellidae. Adults are 4-5mm in size, while the larvae are between 8 and 10mm. [2] Adults are black with bright yellow markings. [3] Larvae are grey with black tubercles covered with short spines. [3] The pupa is pale yellow with black tubercles and lateral spurs. [3]
Behaviour
During the day it is fast moving and readily flies or drops when disturbed. [2] The pupa are active and often stand on end. [2] Adult and larval fungus-eating ladybirds are often found in gardens where they eat powdery mildew on cucurbit crops like pumpkin and zucchini. [4] In Australia, overwintering adults feed on pollen of wattles and privet species during spring. [3]
Distribution
This species is native to Eastern Australia. [3] Fungus-eating ladybirds are a non-native species in the North Island of New Zealand, first introduced to Auckland in 1985. [3] They are also found in New Guinea. [3]
Gallery
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Larval form. -
Fungus-eating Ladybird, Binalong Bay, Australia. -
Fungus-eating ladybird eating powdery mildew on zucchini leaf. -
Illeis galbula on a hand
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See also
References
- ^ "Illeis galbula". Retrieved 2008-12-21.
- ^ a b c "Fungus-eating Ladybird - Illeis galbula". Retrieved 2008-12-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g N A Martin (2017). "Fungus-eating ladybird - Illeis (Leptothea) galbula". Landcare Research. Retrieved 2021-02-18..
- ^ Crowe, A. (2002). Which New Zealand Insect?. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin. p. 47. ISBN 0-14-100636-6.