Ashy Grey Ladybird

Appearance

Polished dorsal surface, and lateral margin of elytron feebly explanate (flared, "helmet-shaped").

Grey to yellowish ladybird with numerous small black spots, to 5.5mmBL. HEAD plain. PRONOTUM 7 black marks, central 3 often form inverted-Y and next tw adjoining to form inverted-W. WING-COVERS 8 small black spots - forward 4 in vertical line, next 3 in vertical line, rear solitary.

Gray with black spots, or black with two red spots.

Dark form can be confused with Chilocorus sp, which have elytra more explanate (appearing more flared) and are a different shape (more "A-frame" basally). Chilocorus sp. never have white markings on head or pronotum.

Both pale and dark forms might be confused with similar forms of Harmonia axyridis. Specific coloration, markings, and shape separate the two. Especially note that O. v-nigrum's spots tend to appear triangular, always with the side sloping away from the suture (where the wings meet) basally. H. axyridis' spots tend to be more of a rounded square.

Psyllobora plagiata has similar color and markings, but size is much smaller, only 2.5 - 3.1 mm (1/8 inch or less).

Naming

SYNONYMS:
Harmonia v-nigrum Mulsant, 1866
Coccinella v-nigrum Crotch, 1874
Coccinella abdominalis Say, 1824
Daulis abdominalis Mulsant, 1850
Cycloneda abdominalis Crotch, 1874
Olla v-nigrum Timberlake, 1943