Arthro-Pod EP 174 Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles are Real Ladybugs

Hello bug lovers! In this exciting edition of Arthro-Pod, Jody leads Mike and Jon through an episode entirely dedicated to the multicolored Asian lady beetle. It is known by many names, the multicolored lady bug, the Halloween beetle, and the fake ladybug amongst others. You may have seen them in your home just recently or been unlucky enough to feel their bite! In this episode, you'll learn how they appeared in the US, the other ways they can pose problems, and ponder the reasons why people would call a real member of the Coccinelidae a "fake lady beetle". 

MALB spending the winter with Jody Green

Show Notes

Mike refers to Harmonia axyridis Wikipedia page to see variations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis  

Bugguide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/397  

Lost lady bug project: http://www.lostladybug.org/ 

Convergent lady beetle

Journal article about MALB and dogs after ingestion in Toxicon by Stocks and Lindsey 2008:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041010108003395#fig1  

A Review of Ladybug Taint in Wine: Origins, Prevention, and Remediation by Pickering and Botezau 2021 https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/14/4341  

Journal article about MALB and seasonal allergens: Nakazawa et al. 2007 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674906030235?via%3Dihub 

Goetz 2008: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5423147_Harmonia_axyridis_ladybug_invasion_and_allergy  

Information about molecule, harmonine from Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany https://www.mpg.de/7246516/Asian-lady-beetles  

Vacuum with pantyhose method: https://www.mypmp.net/2016/05/19/recommend-this-method-to-bed-bug-afflicted-clients/  

MALB eggs

MALB larvae

                                        

MALB pupae

                                                    

Newly emerged MALB adult and pupal shell

Adult MALB going to town on some aphids

Questions? Comments? 

Contact the show at jonathan.larson@uky.edu

Find the hosts on social media:

@bugmanjon and @napoleonicento on BlueSky

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