What kind of beetle is that?
If it looks like a ladybug, flies like a ladybug, and it acts a lot like a ladybug, but it is not actually a ladybug, what is it?
I was on a lunch break with my camera in hand when I came across a spectacular little beetle. I was positive I had discovered a new species of ladybug because it sure looked like one. Almost. The shimmering wing coverings called elytra, were marked with black stripes and dots. I took quite a few photographs of it because I had never seen a beetle like this before. I didn’t know what it was, but I was determined to find out.
It didn’t take long for an identification as I turned to the beetle sections of my favorite field guide. It turned out to be a species of beetle called Calligrapha philadelphica or “Dogwood Calligrapha.” Well, that made sense because I found this beetle on the flowering dogwood at the center. These small, shiny beetles look as if someone painted black designs on their backs. The contrast between the ivory color of their elytra and black markings gives the impression of filigree on fine jewelry.
Like most beetles, including ladybugs, the Calligrapha beetle’s body has four main parts: antennae, head, thorax, and elytra which protects the wings of a beetle. The head and the thorax are a dark metallic color, whereas the elytra are ivory in color. The antennae, legs, and mouthparts are dark in color. The colors, patterns, marks, and designs can vary depending on the species.
Calligrapha beetles are special for the way that some species reproduce. While most Calligrapha species follow the typical mating patterns of female meets male, at least seven species have dispensed entirely with males. Instead, the females simply lay eggs on their favored host plants. Biologists use the term “parthenogenesis.” The larvae drop to the ground, burrow into the soils, and pupate. They overwinter and emerge as near-perfect clones of the females.
The genus Calligrapha is part of the large family of leaf and seed beetles insects that specialize on particular plants. There are 38 North American species, including at least twenty in the Northeast. They feed on the leaves and plant tissues dogwood, basswood, elm, and other shade trees. When these beetles feed on older or well-established plants, they recover quickly from the damage from these beetles. But unfortunately, young plants that are not fully established stand more chance of perishing after these beetles feed on them. Compared to other beetles, Calligrapha beetles are not considered a significant pest.
This taught me a valuable lesson in jumping to conclusions but that is not going to stop me from hopefully, someday, discovering something no one else has.
Jeannie Carl is a naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. The center rehabilitates injured animals and educates the public on a variety of wildlife. For information on the Environmental Center, visit www.carboneec.org.