Harlequin ladybird variation?

[Marilinda]

I found this ladybird on the 15th November. It was only just 5mm long and had dark legs, but is it a variation of a Harlequin? I can't find anything else that matches the pattern.
Many thanks
Marilinda

[Paul mabbott]

The legs might be described as 'dark brown', the hindbody is quite rounded and there's a hint of an elytral 'keel' on the first picture so I'd go for Harmonia axyridis - very dark individuals of f. succinea are common at this time of year, as are smaller than average specimens.

[Marilinda]

Thank you very much Paul.
Marilinda

[Klaas Reißmann]

It is Harmonia axyridis, the red form in the change to the black form. I'm sorry not to use any forma-name for those H. axyridis, but in my mind they are not useful at all. It is an extremely variabel species and I don't kow if all those variations are of genetic conditions. I guess more it depends on temperatures in the pupal stadium and therefor all the names have no use (in my mind).

Regards
Klaas

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Klaas Reißmann

It is Harmonia axyridis, the red form in the change to the black form. I'm sorry not to use any forma-name for those H. axyridis, but in my mind they are not useful at all. It is an extremely variabel species and I don't kow if all those variations are of genetic conditions. I guess more it depends on temperatures in the pupal stadium and therefor all the names have no use (in my mind).

Regards
Klaas

The degree of pigmentation, especially in forma succinea, is, truly, largely environmentally determined - poorly spotted including almost all-red individuals are most common from the first, spring generation into high summer, while darker forms increase in number as winter approaches.
However, the basic patterns are genetically determined and a lot of work has been done on their genetics - not my field particularly but I don't see why we should be interested in the genetics of other ladybird species but not H. axyridis? Genetic studies are intrinsically of scientific interest but also have many applied uses. In particular the genetic make-up of various populations has been helpful in understanding of the processes of dispersal in H. axyridis as an invasive species.

[Marilinda]

This is fascinating - and all from one sighting of a strangely patterned little insect. Their ability to invade, adapt, survive, deserves some admiration in spite of their much publicised 'bad habits'.
Thanks for your comments.
Marilinda

[loripo]

Interesting - I was about to ask a question on the Harlequin colouring, as almost all in my area show a very dark colouration - a muddy orange with large fused black 'spots'. There are sometimes a few with almost identical and quite attractive black markings. And any white on the pronotum is reduced to a few lines. Does this dark colouring help them retain heat in the cooler months?

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by loripo

Interesting - I was about to ask a question on the Harlequin colouring, as almost all in my area show a very dark colouration - a muddy orange with large fused black 'spots'. There are sometimes a few with almost identical and quite attractive black markings. And any white on the pronotum is reduced to a few lines. Does this dark colouring help them retain heat in the cooler months?

That's the general assumption: black absorbs more solar radiation than other colours so is useful for individuals active in the cooler times of year (black absorbs heat more than red and yellow and it's notable that predominantly yellow ladybirds have the shortest of activity periods, in mid-summer).
The reverse also applies, black abosrbs too much heat in sunny weather which can reduce life expectancy.
It's not just 'harlequins' that show this. Adalia bipunctata, the 2-spot, has a whole range of colour patterns from all-black to all-red. In UK, the first to emerge in Spring includes most of the melanic individuals whereas in early summer most of the 2-spots seen are the typica, mainly red.