CITIZEN SCIENCE
Southern Africa has a high diversity of ladybirds (Coccinellidae). In the subfamily Coccinellinae alone, whose members have a more typical ladybird shape with shiny elytra and bright spots, there are 16 recognized genera encompassing ~ 60 species. Despite this diversity, little information is available for native species in South Africa and most remain unknown to the public. We call upon researchers and members of the public to submit their observations and pictures of ladybirds into i-Naturalist www.inaturalist.org
Once submitted, pictures are examined by experts and if possible, ladybirds identified to the species level. We will then draw upon this information and studies undertaken in the CL•I•M•E lab to estimate ladybird species diversity, occurrence and distribution in the country.
Species from top to bottom row are: Cheilomenes lunata, Cheilomenes propinqua, Exochomus flavipes, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia variegata, Liodalia flavomaculata.
Photo credits: I.A. Minnaar and S. Clusella-Trullas
HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD
South Africa has had intentional and unintentional introductions of non-native ladybirds, often becoming invasive species that are known to cause damage to crops, wine production or outcompete native ladybirds. We have been monitoring the spread of the highly invasive harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis and have distributed the pamphlet below to gather samples of this invasive species across the country. With several collaborators, we are using genetic methods to assess the species’ genetic diversity across the country and improve knowledge of its introduction pathways and rates of spread.
