Hippodamia_(beetle)
Hippodamia (beetle)
Genus of beetles
Hippodamia is a genus of ladybirds in the family Coccinellidae. It includes the most common native North American "ladybug", H. convergens, which can form overwintering aggregations numbering in the millions. Another notable member is Hippodamia variegata, which occurs widely over both the North and South Hemispheres.
Members of the genus tend to share an elongated body form with red or orange elytra, and a black and white pronotum. Many species, particularly in North America, are highly variable to the extent that they cannot be separated without dissection in many cases.
