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Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Exochomus Lady Beetle
Exochomus (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-​Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)

-Lady, Fungus, Scavenger, and Bark Beetles (Superfamily Coccinelloidea)

-Lady Beetles (Family Coccinellidae)

-Scale-feeding Lady Beetles (Subfamily Chilocorinae)

-Tribe Chilocorini

-Genus Exochomus


Exochomus is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae), commonly known for their role as biological control agents due to their diet of aphids and other small plant pests. These beetles are usually black or dark brown, with bright red or orange spots on their wing covers (elytra). Like other lady beetles, Exochomus species can secrete a foul-smelling fluid to deter predators when threatened.

Diet

  • Adults: Primarily predatory, feeding on aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, whiteflies and other small, soft-bodied insects.

  • Larvae: Also predatory and consume large numbers of aphids and scale insects while developing.

  • Some adults supplement their diet with nectar, pollen and honeydew, particularly when prey is scarce.

Range

  • Exochomus is a broadly distributed genus occurring in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

  • Several species occur in Mexico, including tropical and subtropical areas of Guerrero.

  • Species of Exochomus can occur in the Zihuatanejo region, particularly where aphids and scale insects are abundant.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical dry forest, woodland, scrub, agricultural fields, orchards, gardens, parks and urban vegetation.

  • Adults and larvae are generally found directly on plants infested with aphids or scale insects.

  • Adults may also gather on flowering plants where nectar and pollen are available.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in).

  • Body broadly oval and strongly convex.

  • Colouration varies considerably among species and can include black, red, orange, yellow and metallic markings.

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