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Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle

Psyllobora vigintimaculata

The Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle is a small, friendly bug with bright yellow wings and twenty black spots. They love to munch on tiny pests like aphids, helping plants stay healthy and happy!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle is a small, round insect, typically bright yellow to pale cream. It has twenty distinctive black spots across its wing covers. Its dome-shaped body helps differentiate it from flat-bodied beetles.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyCoccinellidaeGenusPsyllobora
Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle
spotted trait badgesolitary trait badgecolorful trait badgegrassland trait badge
Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Baby twenty-spotted lady beetles look like tiny, spiky, walking alligators!

It's one of the few lady beetles that eats mold instead of pests!

Its spots aren't always exactly twenty; the number can vary slightly!

They sometimes gather in large groups to spend the winter months together!

Special abilities

Ability

Chemical Defense

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle can release a bitter, toxic liquid from its legs that makes predators think twice.

Ability

Warning Colors

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle has bright yellow colors and black spots that warn hungry birds and insects to stay away.

Ability

Playing Dead

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle can pretend to be dead by tucking in its legs and dropping, surprising attackers.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
5-12 mm
Size
2-4 mm
Lifespan
30-365 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Uniquely, these beetles munch on fungi like powdery mildew, keeping plants healthy!

Age differences: Larvae and adults share a similar diet, primarily fungi.

Primary Foods

  • Powdery mildew
  • Fungal spores
  • Fungal mycelia

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

depends on

Grape powdery mildew

Erysiphe necator

Feeds on this fungal pathogen, helping plant health.

depends on

Cucumber powdery mildew

Podosphaera xanthii

Consumes this common powdery mildew on garden plants.

eaten by

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

A common bird that preys on insects like lady beetles.

eaten by

Allegheny Mound Ant

Formica exsectoides

Ants may prey on larvae or adults when opportunities arise.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

These beetles are safe to watch, but don’t touch them too much to keep them happy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle's wingspan?

5-12 mm

How big is Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle?

2-4 mm

How long does Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle live?

30-365 days

What does Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle eat?

Uniquely, these beetles munch on fungi like powdery mildew, keeping plants healthy!

Where is Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle usually found?

Grasslands

How does Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle have?

6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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