Biology:Halmus chalybeus
| Halmus chalybeus | |
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| On an oak leaf | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Coccinellidae |
| Genus: | Halmus |
| Species: | H. chalybeus
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| Binomial name | |
| Halmus chalybeus (Boisduval, 1835) [1]
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| Synonyms | |
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Halmus chalybeus, commonly known as the steelblue ladybird, is a species of ladybird in the beetle family Coccinellidae and the genus Halmus that is native to Australia.[2] Adult and larval steelblue ladybirds eat a variety of small insects, including but not limited to scale insects, psyllids, whitefly and free living gall mites (Eriophyoidea).[2]
Appearance
Halmus chalybeus has a rounded appearance with an iridescent blue/green colouration. It is a predator of other insects. It was introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1899 and 1905 to control black scale and blue gum scale (see scale insect) on citrus trees,[3] where it is now common in northern regions. It has also been recorded eating San Jose scale. They are about 3–4 mm long.[3]
See also
- Harmonia conformis, the large spotted ladybird
- Illeis galbula, the fungus-eating ladybird
- Two-spotted lady beetle
References
- ↑ "Halmus chalybeus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=187017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Steelblue ladybird - Halmus chalybeus - Interesting Insects" (in en). https://interestinginsects.landcareresearch.co.nz/taxa/ca63e900-cf50-497b-a84d-9dab1d8be32a.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Crowe, A. (2002). Which New Zealand Insect?. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin. p. 47. ISBN 0-14-100636-6.
Further reading
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Wikispecies has information related to Halmus chalybeus |
- Flynn, Alan Richard. 1995. "Aspects of the biology of the steel blue ladybird Halmus chalybeus (Boisduval) (Coleoptera : Coccinellida)". Thesis (MSc–Zoology (Biological Sciences)) University of Auckland. 105 leaves with illustrations.
- Lo, P. L. (December 2000) Species and abundance of ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on citrus orchards in Northland, New Zealand, and a comparison of visual and manual methods of assessment. New Zealand Entomologist 23: 61–65
Wikidata ☰ Q2346637 entry
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