Mulsantina picta

Mulsantina picta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Coccinellidae
Genus:	Mulsantina
Species:	M. picta
Binomial name
	Mulsantina picta; (Randall, 1838)
Synonyms
	Coccinella picta Randall, 1838;

Mulsantina picta (the painted lady beetle or pine lady beetle) is a species of ladybug belonging to the subfamily Coccinellinae.

Description[]

Mulsantina picta is a small ladybug, typically 3.3–5.3 millimetres (0.13–0.21 in) long, and 2.2–4.0 millimetres (0.087–0.157 in) wide. The elytral markings are quite variable, and sometimes absent. The pronotal markings are more constant and recognizable.

Distribution and habitat[]

Mulsantina picta is widespread across the United States and southern Canada. It is especially associated with pine forests ^[1] and is an aphid and adelgid predator.^[2] Thus making M. picta a rather dominant species in older pine trees habitats (since they are conifer specialist), which are known to have low aphid densities.^[3]

References[]

^ Ecology and Behaviour of the Ladybird Beetles
^ Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
^ Sloggett, John J.; Zeilstra, Ilja; Obrycki, John J. (2008). "Patch residence by aphidophagous ladybird beetles: Do specialists stay longer?". Biological Control. 47 (2): 199–206. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2008.08.003.

External links[]

Bugguide on Mulsantina Picta
Description of new species of coleopterous insects inhabiting the state of Maine, by J. W. Randall

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[1] Ecology and Behaviour of the Ladybird Beetles

[2] Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

[3] Sloggett, John J.; Zeilstra, Ilja; Obrycki, John J. (2008). "Patch residence by aphidophagous ladybird beetles: Do specialists stay longer?". Biological Control. 47 (2): 199–206. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2008.08.003.

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