Propylea quatuordecimpunctata

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Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae Genus: Propylea Species: P. quatuordecimpunctata
Binomial name
Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (or P. 14-punctata) is a small lady beetle, native and widespread in the Old World, and invasive in North America. It is sometimes referred to by the common name 14-spotted ladybird beetle. The background color ranges from cream through yellow to light orange, but not red. Only rarely are 14 separate spots present on the elytra; most commonly, several of the spots fuse into larger markings, particularly along the midline, where they often create a shape resembling an anchor, sometimes fusing to such an extent as to render the body almost entirely black except for 12 pale spots.