Alfalfa Lady Beetle

Description:

Dorsum covered with fine recumbent hairs, rather opaque. May appear to have a silvery sheen. Pale yellow to orange, with 0-12 black spots on each elytron (wing cover), typically arranged in 4 transverse, curved rows. Some spots may fuse, especially in the median row.

Habitat:

Meadows and other open habitats.Native to Eurasia, adventive and now widespread in NA (first reported from NJ in 1974)

Notes:

Feeds on a variety of plants, including alfalfa, bouncing bet, and various Caryophyllaceae (Silene, Saponaria) The small size and oval form distinguish this sp. from Epilachna varivestis (> 6 mm) and E. borealis (>7 mm) which occur in the same geographic region.(1) The row of basal spots on S. vigintiquatuorpunctata appears to always curve upward, where as for Epilachna the basal row appears to curve downward or at best uncurved.