Ecological Survey of Unknown Ladybug Species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Mineola, TX

Authors

  • Andrew David Renfro Texas A&M University

Abstract

Ladybugs are commonly used as biological control agents against aphids, and typically not found to be invasive. However, the use of these insects might have had a negative effect by creating an invasive pest, Harmonia axyridis. It was hypothesized that the species observed in the area is H. axyridis because of the coloring and circumstances surrounding the collection. It was hypothesized that, at the time of the collection, around 200 ladybug carcasses could be found inside the building. Collection took place on Thursday, March 15, 2018 between the hours of 1:00 and 2:00 PM in Co Rd 3276, Mineola, TX (32.736248, -95.341007). Specimens were collected through careful handling with tweezers, and then placed into a single container. There was an actual value of 273 specimens inside the area. Using the accuracy formula, it was discovered that the estimated value was 73.260073% accurate. It was also hypothesized that all the collected organisms would be from the same species, however with the decay of the insects (greater than 3 weeks), it was difficult to determine, but the organisms presumably all belong to H. axyridis. All the ladybugs collected were found near doors, windowsills, or window panes. It was extremely rare to discover an insect in the middle of the surveyed region, dead or alive.

References

Chakir, R., M. David, E. Gozlan, and A. Sangare. 2016. Valuing the Impacts of An Invasive Biological Control Agent: A Choice Experiment on the Asian Ladybird in France. Journal of Agricultural Economics. 67: 619—638.

Evans, E. W., A. O. Soares, and H. Yasuda. 2011. Invasions by ladybugs, ladybirds, and other predatory beetles. BioControl. 56: 597—611.

Flint, M. L., S. H. Driestadt, and J. K. Clark. 2002. Natural enemies handbook: the illustrated guide to biological pest control. University of California Press.

Halim, M., A. Aman-Zuki, M. A. Mohammed, and S. Yaakop. 2017. DNA barcoding and relationships of eight ladybugs species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) that infesting several crops from Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. 20: 814—820.

(UPI) UPI. 2013. UPI. (https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2013/10/30/Ladybugs-swarming-in-US-South-in-big-numbers/UPI-55961383186660/).

Downloads

Published

2019-11-04