About Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan, 1763)
Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan, 1763) is a large ladybird (Coccinellid) that reaches 5.5–6 millimetres (0.22–0.24 in) in length. Its colouration is highly variable: most individuals are bright red, brown, or yellow, but some with very large expanded dark patches appear almost completely black. Its common name 'cream-streaked' refers to the vertical pale lines found on many individuals. While the base pattern of this species includes 18 black spots, many individuals do not display all 18 markings. Two marginal spots on each elytron are almost always present even in lightly marked individuals, which gives the species its epithet quadripunctata. The pronotum has very low pattern variation, with a consistent pattern of 11 total markings, 5 of which are large and distinct. Like most species in the genus Harmonia, it has a dark underside with orange-brown sides. Lightly marked, limited-spot individuals of this species can resemble Harmonia axyridis, but their pronotum and elytral patterns do not overlap. This species, also called the four-spot ladybird, is a predator that feeds on various aphid species including Lachnus pinicola. It is active from March to October each year. Adults overwinter in groups under the bark of multiple deciduous and coniferous tree species, including pines and poplars. Harmonia quadripunctata is widespread across Europe, ranging from northern to southern parts of the continent. In the British Isles, it occurs only sporadically. It is also found in the eastern Palearctic realm and the Near East. Its preferred habitat is pine forests, ranging from lowlands to hilly areas. Historically, there have only been rare vagrant records of this species in coastal eastern North America. However, a potential colony was discovered in Massachusetts in 2014, and the species has likely established a sustainable population there.
