Identification
The adults (also called ladybugs or ladybird beetles) are dome shaped on top, flat on the bottom, and oblong when viewed from above. The hard, shiny body is 1/6 to 1/4 inch (4–7 mm) long. The head has short, clubbed antennae and chewing mouthparts, which commonly are pointed downward and may not be apparent when viewed from above.
Adult wing covers are orange and commonly have 13 black spots. Some individuals have fewer spots or no spots. The thorax is black with a white margin. The species is named for the two distinct white markings on the thorax that are angled towards each other (convergent markings).
Eggs are oblong, yellow, and about 1/25 inch (1 mm) long. They are laid on end in clusters of about 10 to 30 on leaves and green stems near aphids or other prey.
Larvae are active with long legs and resemble tiny alligators. They grow up to 1/4 inch (6 mm) long and are blackish with orange blotches that become more prominent on older instars.
Pupae are 1/5 inch (5 mm) long and glued to plant parts near where they fed as larvae. They initially are orange, but increasingly develop black blotches prior to adult emergence.
Habitat
The convergent lady beetle can be found in almost any habitat where plants are infested by aphids. Adults are good fliers and readily migrate among plants and locations.
Young lady beetle larvae usually pierce and suck the contents from their prey. Older larvae and adults chew prey and can consume the entire insect.
Commercial Availability
Convergent lady beetle adults are sold for release to control aphids. Commercially available Hippodamia are field collected from their overwintering sites using portable vacuum devices. These beetles are available for purchase via shipping services and from some retail garden stores.
Although resident lady beetles are important predators, purchased Hippodamia inherently disperse. Most will fly away from the release site within 1 or 2 days after they are released even if aphids are plentiful. However, each adult can consume about 100 aphids per day before it disperses.
Controlling aphids on roses can require about 1,500 beetles per shrub released at 1- to 2-week intervals as long as conditions are suitable for aphids.■