Functional Morphology and Characters of five abundant species of Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

Functional morphology of five coccinellid species, viz.Coccinella septempunctata, Coccinella transversalis, Menochilus sexmaculatus, Propylea dissecta, and Hippodamia variegata, of the Coccinellini tribe (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). These ladybirds prevalent arise in the agricultural fields, hence could be efficiently spotted by their characteristic elytral pattern and spots. However, we have dissected male and female genitalia and found significant differences at the species level. In males, paramere and median lobe while stylus and genital plate in females are exploitable to differentiate species exhibited by line-drawings.