Biology:Illeis galbula
| Fungus-eating Ladybird | |
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| Tribe: | Coccinellini
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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
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
- Steelblue ladybird
References
- ↑ "Illeis galbula". http://www.ento.csiro.au/biology/ladybirds/lucid/key/lucidKey/Media/Html/illeiGalbula1.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Fungus-eating Ladybird - Illeis galbula". http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_ladybirds/FungusEatingLadybird.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 N A Martin (2017). "Fungus-eating ladybird - Illeis (Leptothea) galbula". https://nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz/factsheet/InterestingInsects/Fungus-eating-ladybird---Illeis-(Leptothea)-galbula.html..
- ↑ Crowe, A. (2002). Which New Zealand Insect?. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin. p. 47. ISBN 0-14-100636-6.
Wikidata ☰ Q3009542 entry
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