#chessboard ladybug

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Fourteen-Spotted Ladybug - Propylea quatuordecimpunctata

Although nearly all Ladybugs have a wonderfully cute appearance thanks to their rounded and armored form, it's worth remembering that they can have a vicious streak when it comes to predation. That is to stay, when they take to the hunt to soft-bodied insects. When it comes to others hunting them, their hemolymph defenses and ability to tuck in their limbs beneath their armor keeps them safe from harm. The individuals featured in today's showcase may be small and adorable with their ovaloid shells and bright, checker-boarded patterning, but they are as carnivorous as they come. When small Ladybugs like these patrol along summer plants, any Red Uroleucon Aphid that they deem food has no chance of reprieve. One of the individuals seen here has sunk their mouthparts into one such Aphid in order to devour them! And that's just on one plant! On many of High Park's plants in the vicinity of Grenadier Lake, legions of Aphid clones appear, but even their numbers are no much for a hungry Ladybug.

In addition to consuming legions of Aphids throughout their lifecycle, these checkered Beetles could also turn their dietary attention to the other members of the Hemipteran suborder Sternorrhyncha. Namely Scale Insects and Whiteflies, depending on what is available on the plants they scamper on. If that is correct, pest insects must beware. On a more peaceful note of observation, it may be difficult to tell at first glance with these individuals, but as far as I can tell both of the individuals seen in these images are males. This somewhat elusive detail as can be discerned by looking at their heads. Or rather, the patterns on their faces. If you zoom in on certain pictures (1 and 4), you'll have a clear look at these insects' heads, and you should notice a smooth, creamy-yellow/white colored patch in between their sizeable eyes. Males on the whole only have that patch, while females have dark markings running along the middle of the head. Keep this in mind if you photograph such a find. This detail can often go amiss since this Ladybug likes to tuck in its head when approached by a photographer.

Pictures were taken on July 5, 2025 in High Park with a Google Pixel 8a.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Fourteen-Spotted Ladybug - Propylea quatuordecimpunctata

I caught the briefest of glimpses of this small Ladybug before it flew away. Compared to other, more commonly known (or seen) examples of Ladybugs such as the Asian Ladybug or the Seven-Spotted Ladybug, this one is rarer, so I was happy to find another in the garden. As for why it was on milkweed, it was likely looking for soft-bodied insects or insect eggs to eat. It's a colorful, armored creature with a big appetite from larva to adult. As mentioned in the first post featuring this insect, there's no mistaking this small Ladybird Beetle when it's found in North America since its introduction: black and yellow-to-white colored shell, 14 rectangular spots along the wingcase, orange-colored legs and a white-colored face. Like the previous post, this individual appears to be a male, but with the head tucked in and no direct picture of the face, it's not certain. As a reminder, female Fourteen-Spotted Ladybugs have a black spot in the middle of their face, dividing the white coloration. For the smallest glimpse at this Ladybug's head, zoom in on Picture 1.

If the name "Fourteen-Spotted Ladybug" is too much of a mouthful to say, this insect is known by several other common names. Beyond that, other species of Ladybug can have 14 spots or more, or can be within range of 14 (it may be unproductive to count spot while taking pictures, unless you place in the insect in a suitable container). For a more practical name, this insect has the moniker "Chessboard Ladybug/Ladybird Beetle" given the patterning of its wingcase. Another name this Beetle is known by is "P-14", taken from its scientific name; the specie name specifically refers to "fourteen-spotted". Now P-14 is much less of a mouthful compared to "quatuordecimpunctata". Ironically, although named with 14 in mind, there are many occasions where this Beetle appears as if it has less than 14 spots. For two examples: common specimens have large spots that are fused together (they may still count as 14); darkened variants of P-14 may show only bright yellow spots on the wingcase (generally totaling less than 14).

Pictures were taken on June 11, 2023 with a Google Pixel 4.