Evolutionary Perspectives on Myrmecophily in Ladybirds

Table 1

Taxonomy and some biological characteristics of myrmecophilous ladybirds. Facultatively myrmecophilous species and species for which no reliable information is available are not included.

Taxon	Ant associate	Larval diet	Myrmecophilous traits	References
Chilocorinae
Platynaspis luteorubra	Lasius niger, Myrmica rugulosa, Tetramorium caepsicum	Ant-tended aphids	Behavior, prey odor mimicry, flat body, marginal setae, short and stout legs	[33]
Coccinellinae
Coccinella magnifica	Formica rufa	Ant-tended aphids	Behavior, chemical deterrent	[42, 43]
Coccidulinae
Azya orbigera	Azteca instabilis	Ant-tended coccids	Waxy covering	[29]
Bucolus fourneti	Unknown	Ant workers	Waxy covering	[31]
Ortalinae
Ortalia pallens	Pheidole punctulata	Ant workers	Waxy covering	[34]
Scymninae
Brachiacantha; quadripunctata	Lasius umbratus, Formica subpolita	Ant-tended aphids and adelgids	Behavior, and Waxy covering	[40]
Brachiacantha ursina	Lasius sp.	Ant-tended aphids and adelgids	Waxy covering	[39]
Hyperaspis reppensis	Tapinoma nigerrimum	Apparently ant-tended fulgorids	Body oval, and waxy covering	[60]
Scymnodes bellus	Iridomyrmex sp.	Ant workers	Flat body, marginal setae, short and stout legs	[27]
Scymnus interruptus	Lasius niger	Ant-tended aphids	Waxy covering	[30]
Scymnus nigrinus	Formica polyctena	Ant-tended aphids	Waxy covering	[30]
Diomus thoracicus	Wasmannia auropunctata	Ant brood	Prey odor mimicry, flat body, marginal setae, short and stout legs	[28]
Thalassa saginata	Dolichoderus bidens	Unknown	Ant mimicry	[32]