Stethorus punctum

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Stethorus punctum
File:Stethorus punctum 84125504.jpg
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Stethorus
Species:
S. punctum
Binomial name
Stethorus punctum
(LeConte, 1852)
Synonyms
  • Scymnus punctum LeConte, 1852
  • Stethorus brevis Casey, 1899
  • Stethorus picipes Casey, 1899

Stethorus punctum, known generally as the spider mite destroyer or black mite destroyer, is a species of lady beetle in the family Coccinellidae. It is found in North America.[1][2][3]

Description

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Adults reach a length of about 1.35-1.55 mm. They have a black body, while the antennae, mouthparts and legs are yellow. In subspecies picipes, the legs are black or dark brown.[4]

Biology

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Stethorus punctum is strictly a predator of plant-feeding mites, particularly the spider mites such as the European red mite and the two-spotted spider mite, and especially the eggs. [5]

Subspecies

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These two subspecies belong to the species Stethorus punctum:

  • Stethorus punctum picipes Casey, 1899 (Idaho to British Columbia, south to southern California)
  • Stethorus punctum punctum (LeConte, 1852) (southeastern Canada to North Carolina, west to Montana and Colorado)

References

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Further reading

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