2. It will also feed on pollen and nectar from flowers when prey is scarce. This species can be found in habitats ranging from grasslands, forests, agricultural fields, gardens, and natural parks. Hippodamia convergens, the convergent lady beetle, lives in many habitats including forests, grasslands, farm lands, and suburban gardens. Hippodamia convergens, the convergent lady beetle, is found in a diverse array of habitats including forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, and suburban gardens. This insect can be found in urban gardens, agricultural fields, or pristine mountain meadows. Habitat management to enhance natural enemy populations in agricultural systems may help regulate levels of crop pests, but little research addresses the behaviour of immigrating beneficial insects. Beginning in June, offspring of the early spring migrants fly back to intermediate altitudes and form aggregations.
It is one of the few natural enemies that are currently wild-collected from mass aggregations for distribution to the pest control industry (Figure 1).
This is one of the best known and most common American lady beetles and is found from southern Canada to South America.
This kind of ladybug can help take care of aphids – one of the most annoying farm pests.
Figure 1. Includes sources of additional information and fun facts. The convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, is among the most common lady beetle species throughout North America and is an important natural enemy of aphids, scales, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects. Typical crops on which they live are wheat, sorghum, and alfalfa. Lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) prey on insect pests in cotton. Ladybird Beetle. The convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, is among the most common lady beetle species throughout North America and is an important natural enemy of aphids, scales, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects. Crop colonisation, feeding, and reproduction by the predatory beetle, Hippodamia convergens, as indicated by stable carbon isotope analysis - Prasifka - 2004 - Ecological Entomology - Wiley Online Library According to experts, the hippodamia convergens kind of ladybug is the best for farms and the easiest way to recognize them is through the white dashes on their backs. HABITAT Hippodamia convergens lives throughout California in a wide variety of habitats. Ladybug Farm from Freedoms Garden Hippodamia Convergens A.K.A. A. fabae was introduced to North America from Europe about 130 years ago and has achieved pest status (Foottit et al. It will also feed on pollen and nectar from flowers when prey is scarce.
The Wildlife Garden: Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) | OSU Extension Catalog | Oregon State University It explains what type of habitat they need and how you can provide habitat in your yard. Convergent lady beetles are found on crops in gardens and farms where there are plenty of aphids and other prey to eat. Convergent lady beetles are found on crops in gardens and farms where there are plenty of aphids and other prey to eat. This is the species sold by insectaries for aphid control. In California, Hippodamia convergens, the convergent lady beetle, overwinters at high altitudes in the Sierra Nevada and migrates to agricultural areas in the Central Valley in March.
The objective of this 2 yr on-farm study was to document the impact of a grain sorghum trap crop on the density of Coccinellidae on nearby cotton. Crops … This habitat diversity led the authors to conclude
Hippodamia variegata was found in aphid-rich crops including alfalfa, clover, rye and vetch, and in weedy field borders and wood-land edges. When sold as “lady beetles” or “ladybugs” the species involved is the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens, a native lady beetle found throughout North America. Appearance It also was observed in apple, blueberries, broccoli, strawberries, and sweet corn (Ellis et al.
1999). Purchased lady beetles are all field collected insects, captured in high elevation areas of California where they periodically migrate to and mass aggregate, allowing easy collection. Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Convergent Lady Beetle. However, the quality of A. fabae as a food for one of the most abundant native ladybird beetles in North America, Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Méneville), is unknown. Habitat: Wide ranging habitat, basically, wherever aphids are found, as they comprise the bulk of their diet.
Habitat. Tweet; Description: Oval body, red-orange elytra with up to thirteen small black spots, and white converging markings on the pronotum, from which they get their name. Hippodamia convergens, the convergent lady beetle, is found in a diverse array of habitats including forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, and suburban gardens. Hippodamia convergens. Convergent lady beetles are found on crops in gardens and farms where there are plenty of aphids and other prey to eat. 2006). Huge colonies may be seen in forests in winter.