Introduction to Coccinelids , Myth, Description, Scientific Classification, Life Cycle , Role , Predators, Defense, Hibernation,Reflex bleeding,apo
Introduction to Coccinelids:
1 Introduction:
The Coccinelid is the origination of Latin term “Coccineus”
having meaning of “Scarlet” (Brown,2007). These insects are predatory in nature
belongs to family Coccinellidae and generally famous with different names like
ladybirds (British, Southern Africa and Australian English), Ladybugs (North
American English), Lady beetles or lady Coccinelid beetles (chosen by
Scientists). The word Coccinelidae is the origination of genus Coccinella. Most
Cocinelids having shiny optimistic colous, and spots and blotches in contrast
to its different background. Most of this act as it is unpleasant to Aves
(birds). Its eye-catching look is threating colouration (Moreton, 1969).
2. Myths about Coccinelid beetles:
Many ethos think that lady bird beetles are lucky and have
nursery poems and they bear natives which is related to good luck. For example,
it is called “Uǧur bȍceǧi” in Turkey, having literal meaning “good luck bug”. In
several nation states, like Russia, Turkey and Italy, when a person see a
Coccinelid they believe that the person’s pray and wish will be fulfill very
soon. The Christians relates Coccinelids with the virgin Mary and most of the
European names of ladybird beetles also relates with this. However, several
ancient languages of Europe referenced Freyja, the fertility goddess of Norse
mythology, in the names, the Virgin Mary has now largely supplanted her, so
that, for example, freyjuhœ (Old Norse) and Frouehenge have been changed into
marihøne (Norwegian) and Marienkäfer (German) which corresponds with Our lady’s
bird (Barnaby, 1849).
2.General Description of Coccinelids:
Family Coccinellidae is an important family of order Coleoptera and lady bird belongs to this family (Urooj and Ali, 2016) they are small in size ranges from 4mm to 9mm, or even small as 1mm ( Koren etal, 2012).Their body structures are round but sometimes may be elongated, oval and flattened. Bodycolours varies, mostly reddish, black, orange, yellow and cream colour .They live in all types of terrestrial ecosystem such as forests, tundra, grass lands, agro ecosystem, plains and mountains.3. Dorsal View:
Coccinella septempunctata dorsal view
4 Scientific Classification:
Kingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:ArthropodaClass:InsectaOrder:ColeopteraSuborder:PolyphagaInfraorder:Superfamily:Family:CoccinellidaeLatreille, 1807
- Chilocorinae Mulsant, 1846
- Coccidulinae Mulsant, 1846
- Coccinellinae Latreille, 1807
- Epilachninae Mulsant, 1846
- Hyperaspidinae Duverger, 1989
- Microweiseinae Leng, 1920[2]
- Scymninae Mulsant, 1846
- Sticholotidinae Weise, 1901
5 Life cycle:
Ladybird
beetles lay eggs in cluster form and then undergo metamorphosis, consist of
Larval, Pupal and adult stage. They produce 2 to 3 generations in one year and
complete their life cycle with in one month, depending on the availability of
prey. Adults hibernate in safe location like hiding and aperture of trees.
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| Life cycle |
6. Role in Biological Control:
For better production, the present agriculture receives
heavy inputs such as chemical and fertilizers. There for insect pests are
controlled by insecticides and pesticides which is not only costly but sometime
some pests dwelling places remains unsprayed and causes environmental
pollution. This damage favorable organism such as hunter, parasitoids,
microorganism as well as pollinators. disorganized use of pesticides cause
phytotoxicity.Coccinelids
can also used as biological control agent against Hemipterans such as mealy
bugs, aphids, and scale insects. They feed on soft bodies of aphids and Coccids
and other insects in both larval and adult stages.Besides
their predaceous nature, most of them also feed on new stuffs, such as pollen
grains, juices of plants etc. the non-predaceous nature is still under study
(Almeida et al., 2011) it believes that some Coccinelids lay additional
sterile egg cell among productive ones for the mean of reserve food deliverance
source for larvae when they hatch from eggs. The amount of sterile egg cell
increases with the shortage of food stuff, this phenomena helps in resolving
problem of food shortage (J.Perry & B. Roitberg, 2005).
6.1 Aphid Consumption:
Birds usually predate on these insects but other animals such as frogs, wasp,
spiders, and dragonflies are also in the list.
7.1 Defensive mechanism:
A) Aposematism and Bright shiny Body:
The shiny colours
of lots of Coccinelides deject some potential predators from hunting and
feeding on such aposematic Coccinelids. This phenomenon is called aposematism, this
phenomenon is useful cause the hunter experience unpleasant taste when eat
these insects.
Coccinelids
disappear in winter and it is the first insect which appears in spring. Some
species (e.g, Hippodamia convergens) travel to areas of high latitude,
like mounter in winter for hibernation, in this period they lack activeness and
cessation of development. Utmost ladybird beetles develop on aggregates over
winter, on southern edge of big-size things like plants or dwelling places for
winter periods (A.Honke, et al., 2007)
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Aposematism and Bright shiny BodyB) Alkaloid Secretion or Reflex Bleeding:This phenomena consist of
secretion of alkaloids toxin from the body through the articulation of their
body covering, by automated stimulus (
Such as by hunter attack) in both larval and adult stage of the beetles,
discouraging the predators to hunt over it.
8. Hibernation: |
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| Hibernation |
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