Ladybird attacking pupa

Toby · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 09:35 PM

not sure which species this is but seems very aggressive - the pupa reared up every now and again but had no defence and was killed:

Paul mabbott · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 09:45 PM

These are both 'harlequins', Harmonia axyridis - cannibalism is quite common. It is actually common amongst most predatory ladybirds. The pupae (and, of course, the eggs) being practically immobile have no serious defence against a determined attacker - the flicking action is probably more of a deterrent against parasitoid flies and wasps than against beetles, lacewings, bugs and the like ....

Paul mabbott · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 04:00 PM

Of course, the larvae are even more ferocious - here's one of many seen in London yesterday:

As I said, 'harlequins' are very often cannibals but most, probably all, of the predatory ladybirds will eat pupae of their own or other species. This is a cream-spot ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata which was chomping away at a 'harlequin' pupa until I disturbed it (you can see that it has collapsed at the front right):