Stethorus punctum
| Stethorus punctum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Coccinellidae |
| Genus: | Stethorus |
| Species: | S. punctum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stethorus punctum (LeConte, 1852)
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| Synonyms | |
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Stethorus punctum, known generally as the spider mite destroyer or black mite destroyer, is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is found in North America.[1][2][3]
Description
[edit]Adults reach a length of about 1.35-1.55 mm. They have a black body, while the antennae, mouthparts and legs are yellow. In subspecies picipes, the legs are black or dark brown.[4]
Biology
[edit]Stethorus punctum is strictly a predator of plant-feeding mites, particularly the spider mites such as the European red mite and the two-spotted spider mite, and especially the eggs. [5]
Subspecies
[edit]These two subspecies belong to the species Stethorus punctum:
- Stethorus punctum picipes Casey, 1899 (Idaho to British Columbia, south to southern California)
- Stethorus punctum punctum (LeConte, 1852) (southeastern Canada to North Carolina, west to Montana and Colorado)
References
[edit]- ^ "Stethorus punctum Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Stethorus punctum". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Stethorus punctum species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ Gordon, Robert D. (1985). "The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America north of Mexico" (PDF). Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 93 (1). The New York Entomological Society: 1–916. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "Stethorus punctum". Cornell University College of Agricultire and Life Sciences. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
Further reading
[edit]- Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2007). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 4: Elateroidea - Derodontoidea - Bostrichoidea - Lymexyloidea - Cleroidea - Cucujoidea. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-8788757675.