[169] Harmonia axyridis, Harlequin

[169] Harmonia axyridis, Harlequin Ladybird

Introduction

Harmonia axyridis, the Harlequin Ladybird, is an invasive ladybird that has recently spread across Britain.

It is also called the Multicoloured Ladybird or Asian Ladybird and has many other names. It has been called the Many-named Ladybird!

As noted with [086] the Seven-Spot Ladybird, these insects may be called Ladybugs, Ladybird Beetles or Lady Beetles. In context Harmonia axyridis may just be called a Harlequin.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family – Coccinellidae (Ladybirds)

Genus – Harmonia

Scientific Name – Harmonia axyridis

Its original name was Coccinella axyridis.

Name

The well-known Harlequin character is noted for his colourful, chequered coat.

In Greek mythology, Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, was the goddess of harmony.

I can’t trace ‘axyridis.’

Description

As all beetles, this species is holometabolous. Apart from a very occasional caterpillar, this is the only insect you are likely to see in its larval stage. To be honest, if you look around you at plants in the summer you are very likely to see a few of these.

They have five instar stages of which the last two are more often seen. They are mostly black with some orange markings and spiny defences along their backs. (The Seven-spot Ladybird has a similar larval stage with less orange markings.)

They just roll up and pupate where they are on a leaf.

The adult insect is similar in size and shape to the Seven-spot Ladybird and may be similar in its colouring, but it has a number of different forms. It is said to have a common form with various shades of orange to red elytra and from zero to twenty-two spots of variable size – but this covers a large number of different forms. Other forms may be black, with or without a number of spots, or more complex patterns of black, orange and red.

The pronotum usually has a pattern with more areas of white than the Seven-spot Ladybird and this can be a useful identification feature.

[Note: The thorax of an insect is formed of three parts, each connected to a pair of legs. The front section is called the prothorax, while the other two segments bear the wings or, for beetles, elytra. The prothorax consists of the upper pronutum, the lower prosternum and two lateral propleurons. All of this means that what entomologists call the pronutum is what you might think of as its ‘shoulders,’ or the part of its back in front of the wings.]

It is generally considered to be one of the worst invasive insects worldwide. In Europe is spreads to the detriment of native species. It competes with and may even eat other ladybird species.

It was first sighted in the UK in 2004 and was declared the fastest invading species in 2015. It has led to a significant decline in native British Species such as the Seven-spot Ladybird.

They feed voraciously on Aphids.

Habitat and use

The Harlequin is native to parts of East Asia but has been very widely introduced elsewhere to control [217] Aphids. where it has been introduced it tends to spread rapidly and become Invasive.

Other Notes

You can find these insects on Summer by looking around on plants that might have aphids. They are easier to spot that the aphids they might have eaten.

See also

There are several other species of Ladybird that may be found in Britain, generally much smaller than the Seven-spot and Harlequin. See [278] 14-spot Ladybird.

[063] Callicarpa dichotoma, Purple Beautyberry

[063] Callicarpa dichotoma, Purple Beautyberry

Clerodendrum trichotomum. Harlequin Glorybower

Introduction

Callicarpa dichotoma, the Purple Beautyberry is a tree or shrub native to China and Japan, that is sometimes grown in gardens for its spectacular purple berries. It is sometimes called the Early Amethyst.

Clerodendrum trichotomum, the Harlequin Glorybower, from the same family, has even more spectacular fruits – bright turquoise berries surrounded by pink sepals. It is sometimes called the Peanut Butter Tree.

[Botany is full of specialized scientific definitions. To botanists, grapes, tomatoes, bananas, cucumbers, aubergines and chilli peppers are berries but many of the things we know as berries are not berries. The berries of these species are actually drupes, each one developed from a single carpel of a flower.]

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Plants

Division – Vascular Plants

Class – Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)

Order – Lamiales

Family – Lamiaceae (Mint and Sage)

Genus – Callicarpa, Clerodendrum

Scientific Name – Callicarpa dichotoma, Clerodendrum trichotomum

Name

I think the Common Names are fairly self-evident.

Calli-carpa looks like an attempt by a botanist to render beauty-berry in Latinized Greek. ‘Calli’ certainly means beautiful and ‘carpa,’ relates to the botanical carpel that becomes the colourful fruit.

Clero-dendrum tricho-tomum, from the Greek means chance-tree triple-branched. Don’t ask me why.

Description

Both species are deciduous shrubs that can be grown as decorative hedges.

All I can say about Callicarpa dichotoma is that its fruits are small bright purple berries, growing in clusters. That is the main reason it is grown.

Clerodendrum trichotomum is a fairly close relative. Its leaves produce the scent of peanuts when crushed.

Its fruits are white within a green calyx, turning to a bright blue inside a pink surround.

Habitat and use

Callicarpa dichotoma is native to China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan.

Its fruits of are useful to wildlife but are bitter and not fit for human consumption.

Clerodendrum trichotomum has a slightly larger native area including the Phillipines.

Both species are cultivated in England and elsewhere for their appearance.

Other Notes

It may not surprise you but I have seen both at Slimbridge WWT. As well as lakes and hides, it has excellent gardens and provides mini-habitats for butterflies, damselflies and pond life.

I have also seen the Purple Beautyberry in a few local gardens.

See also

You may meet other species from Lamiaceae but none of my other species have quite such spectacular fruits.

P.S. From a late visit to Westonbirt Arboretum here are the flowers of the Harlequin Glorybower.