Most Wanted

Missing Focal Species Search

During the 2022 field season, we want to focus our collective efforts on finding 4 missing native species – the Nine-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella novemnotata), Two-spotted Lady Beetle (Adalia bipunctata), Transverse Lady Beetle (C. transversoguttata), and Thirteen-spotted Lady Beetle (Hippodamia tredecimpunctata) (links on each species name will take you to their respective species profiles).

Once common native species, all of these species have experienced alarming declines across their ranges in recent decades. In 2015, the Two-spotted Lady Beetle, Nine-spotted Lady Beetle, and Transverse Lady Beetle were designated as “species of greatest conservation need” in New York. The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle was recently declared “Endangered” in Canada. The Thirteen -spotted Lady Beetle is listed as Imperiled in Nova Scotia and has been in sharp decline across much of its range.

We want to determine if these species are truly extirpated from Vermont, or if they still exist in isolated populations. Therefore, we have created maps of locations where each of these species was historically recorded in Vermont, in the hopes that focused survey efforts in these regions will locate any remaining populations.

Focal Species Information - 2022 Field Season

Nine-spotted Lady Beetle

Two-spotted Lady Beetle

Found in 2022!

Transverse Lady Beetle

Thirteen-spotted Lady Beetle

The above links for the Nine-spotted, Two-spotted, Transverse, and Thirteen-spotted Lady Beetles will take you to PDFS for each species, which include: species ID information, a map of historic records, and a list of historic records.

• The map of historic records show the location of each record of the species in Vermont. Most species records were listed at the township level, so town boundaries containing records are highlighted. For records with a more exact location, location uncertainty is highlighted. Some locations were only listed at the county level. These records are designated by a point that is not surrounded by a town boundary on the map.
• Below each map is a list of each record of the species, including location, date, and other relevant record information (ex. locality, such as Camel’s Hump State Park).

Additionally, we added an interactive table on this page, titled “Focal Species Historic Locations”. This table lists townships where the 4 focal species were historically documented, summarizing information found in each PDF linked above. Using the search bar in the upper right hand corner, you can search by region, species, or year to better inform your survey efforts.

Focal Species Historic Locations

Other missing species to look for

Firefly Duskyling

Glacial Lady Beetle

Undulate Sigil Lady Beetle

Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetle

Found in 2022!

Five-spotted Lady Beetle

Scymnus fraternus