![]() ![]() Like most of its other relatives, Coelophora inaequalis can be found on shrubs and flowering plants in our local parks, gardens and forests, generally wherever aphids, its prey, are found Habitat Ladybirds are often found in a large variety of habitats such as forests, grasslands and even urban areas. inaequalis' life cycle, look to the image above. For a brief and quick understanding of C. It moults into a pupa after the fourth instar and the colour varies from pale to mid-brown with black patches. The larvae go through four instars (stages) each time it moults. Eggs are laid on leaves, and the larvae that hatch are dark grey. Images obtained from NZFactsheets (permission pending), information obtained from BBC.Ĭoelophora inaequalis, as with all other beetles in the order Coleoptera, are holometabolous, meaning that the larvae will metamorphose into a completely different looking adult, with a resting stage known as a pupa. (10) Life cycle of Coelophora inaequalis. They can be distinguished from closely related species in the same genus by the absence of an infundibulum (a structure in the female genitalia). It has 11-segmented antenna ending in a small club, and its head is slightly withdrawn into the prothorax (first segment of the thorax). This species is small, roughly 4 – 7.5mm, with an oval hemispherical body, and convex glabrous (smooth, without pits) elytra. If you wish to find out more about the reason behind this species’ common name, do scroll down to this section ! How to Identify? Coelophora inaequalis, however, holds the common name of the Variable Ladybird, and the Latin name ' inaequalis ' translates to irregular, or variable Image obtained from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons)Īdditionally, people used to believe that the seven spots on Coccinella septempunctata parallel the seven graces and sorrows of the Virgin Mary Ģ) Jan van Eyck’s Lucca Madonna in 1436, depicting the Virgin Mary, also known as Madonna, with her child, Jesus. In the United States, ‘ladybird’ was Americanized to ‘ladybug’, and this has admittedly given rise to its varying, mildly confusing names. However as more related species were described, this name has now been extended to all ladybird relatives under the order Coccinellidae. The name ‘ladybird’ was used in England for 600 years, mainly to refer to the common European beetle Coccinella septempunctata, also known as the Seven-spot Ladybird. The 35 species of ladybirds found in Singapore all have a varying range of patterns too ! What's in a name? In fact, only 26 out of Britain’s 47 species exhibit the traditional black-on-red spots. The more accurate name should hence be ladybeetle! Ladybirds aren't just charismatic and pretty, they can be voracious predators, and feed on pest insects that damage crops. Although most people’s impression of ladybirds is that of the classic red and black spottiness, the approximately 6000 described species have a diverse range of patterns and colours. For more information on the differences between True Bugs and beetles, check out this website) nor bird. While it comes with numerous names like ladybugs or ladybirds, this insect is neither bug (usually referring to another group of insects known as True Bugs. If that bug-lovin’ phase hasn’t died out for you or you’re simply bored at home on the internet, here’s a page that provides you with all the basic information you need to broaden your ladybird knowledge horizons! These tiny creatures were probably one of the pretty insects that you adored in your youth during one’s bug-catching phase. ![]() Ladybirds are like the Audrey Hepburn of the insect world – classy, pretty and iconic (in my opinion). ![]()
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