About Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758) grows to approximately 3.5–5 millimetres (0.14–0.20 inches) in length. These small beetles have an elongate oval body with strongly convex elytra that are smooth, shiny, and densely, finely punctured. The head bears a black arch-shaped marking. Their antennae are club-shaped and have 9 to 11 segments. This species, commonly called larch ladybird, shows great variation in body color and markings, with several described varieties. For example, the variety Aphidecta obliterata v. fenestrata has entirely black elytra. Usually, elytra color ranges from tan to brown, often with a pink tinge. The elytra have a dark suture, and usually have a dark oblique line on the posterior portion. The pronotum is beige, with four dark brown lines that form an M-shaped mark. Unlike other ladybug species that have prominent spots, this species has smaller, less distinct spots or small blotches, if it has any markings at all.
This species is distributed across Europe, European Russia, the Caucasus, Belarus, Ukraine, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, North America (Virginia, South Carolina, and Newfoundland).
Its habitat includes high bogs and peat areas, mainly coniferous and mixed forests (such as Central European mixed forests and Sarmatic mixed forests), and especially Pinus sylvestris forests and other temperate needleleaf forests. It is occasionally found in gardens and parks. It occurs mainly on Pinus sylvestris and other Pinus species, and on Picea abies; it is also found on Larix decidua, where it stays occasionally under bark flakes, under bark, or in moss growing on tree trunks.
