Insect
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergensAlso known as Convergent Ladybird, Convergent Ladybird Beetle
Convergent lady beetles are recognizable by the two white lines converging on their black pronotum and play a vital role as natural pest control across North America. Thousands of adults frequently gather in dramatic overwintering aggregations along cool mountain ridges, resting together under leaf litter and logs until spring warmth triggers dispersal. When threatened, these beetles release a foul-tasting yellow fluid from their leg joints to deter potential predators.
Beneficial InsectMigratoryAggregation
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAphids, Scale insects, Thrips
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Assassin bugs
ThreatsPesticides, habitat loss, competition from invasive lady beetles
HabitatsAgricultural fields, grasslands, gardens, mountain forests
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyCoccinellidae
- GenusHippodamia
- SpeciesHippodamia convergens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spring garden search: Look for adults and larvae on aphid-infested garden plants and agricultural crops during warm spring months.
- Mountain winter aggregations: Avoid disturbing dense clusters aggregating along mountain ridges or beneath forest leaf litter during winter.
- Gentle handling: Handle lightly without squeezing, as stressed beetles secrete a bitter yellow fluid from their leg joints.
Competitor (c) Casey H. Richart, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Casey H. Richart · cc-by
Competitor "Asian Lady Beetle in Central-Germany & a mite" by gbohne is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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Mystic Meadows
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