About the Small Transverse Ladybird Beetle
Coccinella transversalis, commonly known as the transverse ladybird or transverse lady beetle, is a species of ladybird beetle found from India across southern and southeastern Asia to Malesia and Australia. It is not to be confused with Coccinella transversoguttata, a widespread species in Europe and North America also known as the transverse ladybird. The alternative vernacular of small transverse ladybird may be used for C. transversalis in instances where these two species are discussed together.
The transverse ladybird was first described by Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1781 as Coccinella transversalis and still bears its original name. Fabricius' description predated Carl Peter Thunberg's naming of this species as C. repanda by several months.
Measuring 3.8 to 6.7 millimetres (0.15 to 0.26 in) long and 3.3 to 5.45 millimetres (0.130 to 0.215 in) wide, the transverse ladybird shows little variation across its wide range. It has a black head with predominantly bright red or orange elytra boldly marked with a black band down the midline and two lateral three-lobed markings.
Like many species of ladybirds, the transverse ladybird plays... Wikipedia →