Guides to Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae) of the World
Lady Beetles, Ladybugs, or Ladybirds are a diverse and iconic group of beetles making up the family Coccinellidae. Over 6000 species are known globally and are renowned for their striking patterning and colouring. With so many unique forms, it is no surprise that these beetles have become the subject of much study throughout the generations, with research continuing to this day!
I became infatuated with these little critters over the summer and tried to find as much information as I could on them. During my research, something became incredibly clear, all these sites, PDFs, and research papers were all over the place! So, I decided to compile these resources into one easy-to-access location, this journal post. Consider this your one-stop-stop for everything lady beetle!
This will be an ongoing project and I hope to get community input and feedback on it. If you have an accessible resource you'd like to contribute, please leave a comment below or message me privately. I'll see if I can add it here.
And of course, a big thank you to @silversea_starsong for his feedback and expertise and to @borisb for additional suggestions! This post wouldn't have been possible without them!
What is a Lady Beetle?
While defining this family under a single umbrella is difficult, most species generally share a small set of features. One such example is their body structure, with convex elytra and flat underside, forming a dome. The pronotum covers a portion of the head and the antennae are short, usually no longer than the head is wide. They are also club-shaped.
There is overlap with other groups of beetles however, so the best way to understand what is and isn’t a lady beetle is to familiarise yourself with the different species.
Principles of Identification
Lady Beetle identification in the field often relies on a few simple principles.
A) Variability
Lady beetles each have a distinctive pattern, but the extent of such patterns can vary. These extents may be either, 'lighter', with smaller and sometimes missing spots or 'darker', with larger and sometimes merged spots. However, the overall pattern itself retains the same basic "blueprint" while genetic variation in pigmentation and other factors create natural variation.
Some species are more variable than others. Known variations are discussed in the guides.
Figure a) lighter and darker morphs of Harmonia axyridis.
B) Morphology
The hardened wing covers, the elytra, protect the flight wings and are strikingly coloured and patterned. Their markings are used to determine which species it is. Equally important but far less flashy are the pronotum and head. Together, the features of these three body regions guide identification, so be sure to get a good view of them.
In more specific cases, the underside and leg colouration, overall shape, and antennae may be required to accurately assess the species.
Figure b) parts of a lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata.
C) Life Cycle
The life cycle of lady beetles can be divided into four stages; egg, larva, pupa, and finally adult. As with adults, the larval and pupal stage may be identified by their appearance, though information on characteristic features of these life stages remain unknown for many species.
After a lady beetle emerges from the pupa, it enters the teneral stage, a short period when its body is soft, lightly coloured, and mostly unpatterned. Any damage sustained to the beetle during these first few hours can result in permanent bruising and deformities. This is visible on the elytra as discolouration or scratches which can be mistaken for actual patterning. However, they are irregular and are not mirrored on each elytron (singular elytra).
Figure c) the life cycle of Cheilomenes sexmaculata.
D) Food and Host Plants
Most lady beetles are predatory and take advantage of local infestations of soft-bodied insects like aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs. These infestations are sporadic and concentrated on specific plants. As such, the relationship between plants and most lady beetles comes down to whether these soft-bodied prey items are present. In other words, lady beetles associate with their prey species rather than the plant itself. Some groups feed on mildew and fungi while others are herbivorous, feeding on specific host plants.
Eggs are laid on preferred host plants so knowing the relation between the lady beetle and plant species could strengthen larval and pupal identification.
Getting Started
If you're just beginning your Lady Beetle identification journey, there are many resources to help get you started. The Lost Ladybug project for instance, is an initiative to collect distribution data on lady beetles. It offers easy-to-understand information on identification, finding lady beetles, ecology, and more. I'd recommend taking a look at these articles:
How to Find, Collect, and Photograph Ladybugs
Ladybug Learning
Identification Tools
Also available is the Ladybug Identification Guide from Discover Life. Just fill in a few boxes about the appearance of the beetle and press one of the 'search' buttons on the right. A few suggested species will then appear on the left with more information. The more category boxes you fill in, the more precise the suggestions will be.
Consider joining the Ladybird Beetles of the World project here on iNaturalist. It's a great way to meet identifiers and share your observations.
A Word of Advice
Identification from external features is not always possible as some species can look the same. In these cases, the specimen is examined under a microscope and characteristics such as the male genitalia are used to determine the species. This is because the structure of the genitalia is unique to each species and does not vary within them.
This is the limitation of photo identification. When you encounter this situation on iNaturalist, use a more broad ID, like one to the genus, tribe, subfamily, etc.
References
Giorgi, A. and Vandenberg, N. (2009, 9 November). Coccinellidae. Lady beetles, Ladybird beetles, Ladybugs. The Tree of Life Web Project
http://tolweb.org/Coccinellidae/9170/2009.11.09
Bartlett, T. (2004, 16 February). Family Coccinellidae - Lady Beetles. BugGuide.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/179
All About Ladybugs. The Lost Ladybug Project.
http://www.lostladybug.org/files/9%20LLP%20All%20About%20LadybugsPDF.pdf
Schuh. M. (2022). Lady beetles. The University of Minnesota Extension.
https://extension.umn.edu/beneficial-insects/lady-beetles
Kawakami. Y. and Yamazaki. K. (2015, January) Increase in dark morphs and decrease in size during a range extension of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). European Journal of Entomology.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276249939
General Guides
Notice: Resources are in English unless mentioned otherwise. Taxonomy (especially in older articles) may be outdated.
North America
BugGuide - Family Coccinellidae - Lady Beetles
- Parameters: Species of America North of Mexico.
- Information: Identification, range, habitat, lifestyle, remarks, and more. Uses photographs and illustrations.
- Navigation: Scroll through different genera or use 'search'. Most information on a species page is found under 'info'.
- Type: Website, actively worked on.
- Notes: Includes forum discussions.
The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America North of Mexico
- Parameters: Species of America North of Mexico.
- Information: Identification, range, discussion, and more. Uses illustrations exclusively.
- Navigation: Table of contents or use 'search inside' to find scientific names.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1985, accessible as an ebook.
- Notes: BugGuide includes much of the same information and is more accessible.
The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of Bermuda
- Parameters: Species of Bermuda.
- Information: Identification, range, discussion, and more. Uses illustrations exclusively.
- Navigation: Table of contents or use 'search inside' to find scientific names.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1990, accessible as an ebook.
Coleoptera Coccinellidae - Gallery
- Parameters: Select species of North America.
- Information: Uses photographs, pinned specimens.
- Navigation: Use 'view genera gallery' or 'view dorsal gallery'.
- Type: Website.
- Notes: Pinned specimens often appear darkened and discoloured. This occurs postmortem.
Lady Beetles of the Northwest Territories
- Parameters: Species of the Northwest Territories.
- Information: General information, identification, habitat, diet, and distribution. Uses photographs and illustrations.
- Navigation: See index.
- Type: Field guide, published 2018. In English and French.
Key to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of Saskatchewan
- Parameters: Species of Saskatchewan.
- Information: General information, identification, habitat, diet, and distribution.
- Navigation: See legend at the end.
- Type: Research paper, published 2013.
- Parameters: Predators of Melanaphis sacchari
- Information: Identification, distribution, and confusion species. Used photos.
- Navigation: See table of contents.
- Type Research paper, published 2020. In Spanish and English.
South America
- Parameters: Species of South America.
- Information: Identification, range, notes, and more. Uses photographs.
- Navigation: Species split by country they occur and by subfamily. Press on flags to view different countries.
- Type: Website, actively worked on; see 'news' section. In Spanish.
- Parameters: Species of Brazil.
- Information: Labeled photos and general information on lady beetles.
- Navigation: “Galeria” takes you to specimen photos.
- Type: Website
Europe
Coccinellidae - Ladybirds - NatureSpot
- Parameters: Species of Leicestershire and Rutland, UK.
- Information: Identification, habitat, life history, and more. Uses photographs.
- Navigation: Pressing on a photo takes you to the species page.
- Type: Website.
Variability of elytral color patterns in Coccinellidae - Kerbtier
- Parameters: Species of Germany.
- Information: Examples of variation in multiple species. Uses photographs.
- Navigation: Press on name or photo of species to be taken to its section of the gallery.
- Type: Website.
The Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of Moscow Province
- Parameters: Species of Moscow Province.
- Information: Biology and distribution. Uses photographs.
- Navigation: No navigation.
- Type: Research paper, published 2016.
- Parameters: Species of Europe.
- Information: Identification, distribution, habitat, and more. Uses photographs, figures, and/or illustrations.
- Navigation: Species divided by subfamily. Species pages can be accessed by pressing on their name highlighted in blue. Pressing and holding on images magnifies them.
- Type: Website, regularly updated. In German.
семейство Coccinellidae (Божьи коровки)
- Parameters: Species of the Moscow Region.
- Information: Photos and collection sites.
- Navigation: Press on photos to see species pages.
- Type: Website, updated since 2003. In Russian.
- Parameters: Species of Czechia.
- Information: Labeled photos.
- Navigation: Press genus name to view species included.
- Type: Website, actively updated.
- Parameters: Species of Norway.
- Information: Identification, distribution, habitat, and confusion species. Uses photos.
- Navigation: Select one of the five tribes and choose a species profile by pressing on it.
- Type: Website. In Norwegian.
Asia
- Parameters: Coccinellini of India.
- Information: Identification, distribution, habitat, notes, and more. Uses photographs, and/or illustrations.
- Navigation: See 'treatments', species sorted by genus.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 2023.
- Parameters: Chilocorini of India.
- Information: Identification, distribution, habitat, notes, and more. Uses photographs, and/or illustrations.
- Navigation: See 'treatments', species sorted by genus.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 2023.
- Parameters: Noviini of India.
- Information: Identification, distribution, habitat, notes, and more. Uses photographs, and/or illustrations.
- Navigation: See 'treatments', species sorted by genus.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 2023.
- Parameters: Hyperaspidini of India.
- Information: Identification, distribution, habitat, notes, and more. Uses photographs, and/or illustrations.
- Navigation: See 'treatments', species sorted by genus.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 2022.
- Parameters: Species in East Himalaya, India.
- Information: Distribution. Uses photographs.
- Navigation: No navigation.
- Type: Research paper, published 2020.
- Notes: Includes species outside Coccinellidae too.
- Parameters: Species of Pakistan.
- Information: Distribution, host plants. Uses photographs.
- Navigation: No navigation.
- Type: Research paper, published 2018.
Review of the tribe Chilocorini Mulsant from Iran (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)
- Parameters: Species of Iran
- Information: Identification, distribution, prey, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Navigation: Press on highlighted figure number to view figures.
- Type: Research paper, published 2017.
An annotated checklist of the Coccinellidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Yemen
- Parameters: Species of Yemen.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Type: Research paper, published 2000.
- Parameters: Species of Osaka.
- Information: Identification, distribution, similar species, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Navigation: Press 'こちら' to view a list of species. Highlighted species have a profile.
- Type: Website. In Japanese.
- Parameters: Species of Japan.
- Information: Identification, distribution, seasonal occurrence, and more. Uses photographs.
- Type: Website, published 2005. In Chinese.
- Parameters: Common species of Butan.
- Information: Labeled photos.
- Navigation: No navigation.
- Type: Poster, published 2016.
- Parameters: Species of Pakistan.
- Information: Identification, distribution, host plant, and additional remarks.
- Navigation: No navigation.
- Type: Research paper, published 2017.
- Parameters: Species of Taiwan.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and confusion species.
- Navigation: At the top of the page, links for each subfamily are available. Press on them to continue onto the species in that grouping. Tap on a species photo to learn more.
- Type: Website, last updated 2023. In Chinese.
- Notes: Includes larval and pupal identification.
Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of Mongolia
- Parameters: Species of Mongolia.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and habitat. Used illustrations exclusively.
- Navigation: No navigation.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1984.
Africa
Documenting museum records of West African Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) in Benin and Senegal
- Parameters: Species of west Africa.
- Information: Species names, distribution, and more. No photos or illustrations included, functions more as a checklist.
- Navigation: Pressing on species names may bring up other articles on that species.
- Type: Research paper, published 2020.
Namibia Biodiversity Database - Family Coccinellidae in Namibia
- Parameters: Species of Namibia.
- Information: Checklist of species, includes distribution data. Uses photos.
- Navigation: Click on a subfamily and continue until you arrive at a species profile.
- Type: Website, published 2012.
Oceania
Ladybird Beetles of the AustraLo-pacific Region
- Parameters: Species of the Pacific.
- Information: Identification, distribution, remarks, and more. No illustrations or photographs in the preview.
- Navigation: See 'contents' or type into the 'search' bar.
- Type: Book, published 2020. Accessible through a preview.
- Parameters: Species of Australia.
- Information: Many species profiles unfinished. In it's current state, acts best as a chestlist and an image gallery.
- Navigation: See 'tribes & genera', 'species', and 'search'. 'Compare' allows you to compare photos of different species by selecting their name.
- Type: Website, last updated 2007.
Review Of The Australian Epilachninae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
- Parameters: Epilachninae of Australia.
- Information: Identification, variation, distribution, remarks, and more. Used illustrations.
- Type: Research paper, published 1993.
Specific Guides
Included are guides on specific species or genera. As with the general guides, the taxonomies used may be outdated or different to what’s currently being used on iNaturalist.
Cheilomenes
- Parameters: Species Cheilomenes sexmaculata.
- Information: Relation between morph, size, and elevation.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 2015.
Chilocorus
- Parameters: Species Chilocorus infernalis.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and more.
- Type: Website.
Coccinella
- Parameters: Species Coccinella algerica.
- Information: Identification, distribution, confusion species, and more. Uses photos.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1977.
- Parameters: Species Group Coccinella transversoguttata.
- Information: Identification, distribution, confusion species, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 2005.
O występowaniu Coccinella saucerotti lutshniki Dobrzh. w Polsce (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae
- Parameters: Species Coccinella saucerotti lutshniki.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and confusion species. Uses illustrations.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1957. In Polish.
The Status of Coccinella septempunctata L. and its Varieties divaricata Oliv. and confusa Wied.
- Parameters: Varieties Coccinella septempunctata divaricata and confusa.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and more. Used illustrations.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1962.
Cycloneda
- Parameters: Select species of the genus Cycloneda.
- Information: Identification, distribution, remarks, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Type: scientific paper, published 2002
Harmonia
- Parameters: Species Harmonia axyridis and yedoensis.
- Information: Identification and additional notes.
- Type: Scientific presentation.
Henosepilachna
- Parameters: Species Henosepilachna implicata, circularis, vigintioctopunctata, pusillanima and septima.
- Information: Identification, distribution, host plants, and more. Uses photos.
- Navigation: See ‘figures’ for photos.
- Type: Scientific journal, last updated 2023.
Hippodamia
Review of the New World Species of Hipppdamia Dejean (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
- Parameters: Genus Hipppdamia.
- Information: Identification, distribution, additional notes, and more. Used illustrations.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1946.
Illeis
Philippine Species of Illeis Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellinae: Psylloborini)
- Parameters: Illeis koebelei koebelei, koebelei amamiana, and luzonica.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1998.
Mulsantina
Revision of the Genus Mulsantina Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
- Parameters: Genus Mulsantina.
- Information: Identification, distribution, and more. Uses illustrations.
- Type: Scientific journal, published 1985.