Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Coccinellidae
Genus:	Henosepilachna
Species:	H. vigintioctopunctata
Binomial name
	Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata; (Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms
	Coccinella 28-punctata Fabricius, 1775; Coccinella sparsa Herbst, 1786; Epilachna gradaria Mulsant, 1850; Epilachna territa Mulsant, 1850; Epilachna vigintioctopunctata Auctt.; Epilachna sparsa Auctt.

Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata is a species of beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is commonly known as the 28-spotted potato ladybird^[1] or the Hadda beetle.^[2] It feeds on the foliage of potatoes and other solanaceous crops. It was previously called Epilachna vigintioctopunctata and is a cryptic species complex.^[3] It is very often confused with a closely related species, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata, which occurs in Russia, China, Japan, and Korea, and is given the same "common name".^[4]

Distribution[]

This species is native to southeastern Asia, primarily India, but has been accidentally introduced to other parts of the world, including Australia^[5] and New Zealand.^[2] It has also been recorded from Brazil and Argentina, beginning in 1996.^[6]

Economic significance[]

This species causes damage to agricultural crops primarily in the family Solanaceae, especially potatoes; other crops include pumpkin, turnips, radishes, beans and spinach.^[7]