# Subvittate Lady Beetle (*Myzia subvittata*) The Subvittate Lady Beetle is a small, colorful bug that loves to eat aphids! These friendly beetles help keep gardens healthy by munching on pesky pests. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Gardens ![Subvittate Lady Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myzia_subvittata_225161756.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chloe and Trevor Van Loon, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myzia_subvittata_225161756.jpg) ## Appearance The Subvittate Lady Beetle is an oval-shaped insect, typically reddish-orange to yellowish with distinct black spots. Its 'subvittate' name hints at faint, elongated stripes or a thin black line down its back, making it visually distinct from common round-spotted ladybugs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Coccinellidae - **Genus:** Myzia ## Interesting facts - An adult Subvittate Lady Beetle can eat hundreds of tiny aphids in just one day! - Baby lady beetles (larvae) look like tiny spiky alligators and are super hungry predators! - Lady beetles "play dead" by tucking in their legs and falling over when scared! - Their bright colors are a warning sign to birds and other animals to stay away. ## Special abilities - **Stinky Shield:** Subvittate Lady Beetle can ooze a foul-smelling liquid from its legs because of special glands that help them deter hungry predators. - **Winged Wonder:** Subvittate Lady Beetle has strong, hidden wings that help them quickly fly away from danger or find new food sources. - **Grippy Climber:** Subvittate Lady Beetle can cling to smooth leaves and stems because of tiny hairs on its feet that help them walk upside down. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-16 mm - **Size:** 5-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These beetles are tiny hunters, eating small, soft-bodied insects that harm plants. - **Age differences:** null - **Primary Foods:** Aphids, Mealybugs, Scale insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Feasts on these plant pests. - **Hunts:** Potato Aphid (*Macrosiphum euphorbiae*) — A favorite food source. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Birds sometimes try to eat them. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These beetles are safe to watch, but don't touch them too much. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Subvittate Lady Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Subvittate Lady Beetle's wingspan? 10-16 mm ### How big is Subvittate Lady Beetle? 5-8 mm ### How long does Subvittate Lady Beetle live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Subvittate Lady Beetle fly? 8 km/h ### What does Subvittate Lady Beetle eat? These beetles are tiny hunters, eating small, soft-bodied insects that harm plants. ### Where is Subvittate Lady Beetle usually found? Gardens ### How does Subvittate Lady Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Selleck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/selleck) — Washington, US · Historic District ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Subvittate Lady Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/subvittate-lady-beetle)