Asian lady beetle + microsporidia = Native lady beetle death!

As we've noted before in this blog, the decline of many native lady beetle species occurring in North America and other countries coincides with the presence of the Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis. The mechanisms as to why this is the case have been unclear. Is Harmonia a more effective predator than natives? Is it merely eating the natives at a particular life stage (termed intraguild predation, and the topic of Chelsea's M.S. thesis)? Does it have a faster life cycle and therefore able to reproduce in higher numbers?

A new study published today in Science reports that H. axyridis may be such an effective invasive species due to microsporidia in its hemolymph. These microsporidia are safe for their hosts, but when native species (to Europe), such as Coccinella septempunctata, were injected with these microsporidia they died. In the field, this may mean that consumption of H. axyridis eggs is lethal to intraguild competitors.

C. septempunctata is also established in the U.S., and is a dominant competitor of our own native species. It will be interesting to see how these new findings will influence our understanding of American native lady beetle declines.

Harmonia axyridis (wikipedia) 

Report in Science (paywall): http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6134/862

Science Daily article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130516142541.htm

Are you signed up for the Gardiner Lab Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz training workshop?

Bugs World at OARDC!

Today and tomorrow is A Bugs World at OARDC! A Bugs World is a two-day interactive learning experience for elementary school students. There are many different sessions which are organized by members of Ohio State's entomology department and some other departments as well. We developed a program to teach school children about the diversity of lady beetles and their life cycle.

We always have a great time with the students!

Insect of the week!

Recently a retired OARDC-Entomology staff member, Bill, brought in a mystery insect which he suspected might be a lady beetle. He found them aggregated on some logs near his home.

Specimen: Found aggregated on logs in NW Ohio

Upon closer inspection of the beetle, the antennae looked too long and it was clear this was not a lady beetle.  All we could tell Bill at the time was that this was not a lady beetle, but it was perhaps a mimic. With that limited information Bill researched and found the species name before members of the ALE lab even had a chance!

This species, Endomychus biguttatus, is a member of the Handsome Fungus Beetle family (Endomychidae). It feeds on fungus which may explain why it was discovered on a log pile. Below is a much better image of this species, which clearly shows the long antennae and a pronotum without the spots which are normally present on lady beetles.

www.billjohnsonbeyondbutterflies.com

It is easy to see how this insect could be confused for a lady beetle, the color and shape of the wing covers are very similar to some lady beetle species, pictured below:

The Columbus Dispatch

Great detective work Bill!

Sources:
Bugguide.net
www.billjohnsonbeyondbutterflies.com

ALE Lab Research in the SEEDS Progress Report

SEEDS: The OARDC Research Enhancement Competitive Grants Program supports projects that are managed by both Faculty and Students. SEEDS give scientists an opportunity to collect preliminary data needed to compete for larger national grants.

The ALE lab has received funding from SEEDS for many of our projects. Recently our lady beetle work was in the SEEDS annual progress report. (Click the picture to zoom in)