Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetle © Tom Preney
Esteemed Lady Beetle © Tom Murray
Esteemed Lady Beetle © Tom Murray
The Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetle is native to North America. Its wing covers are black with orange or pale yellow spots of varying sizes (one larger in the middle, smaller spots toward the rear).
Status
Native
Has not been Ranked in the United States or in Canada.
Last Seen
1969
Fun Fact
The Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetle’s species name (proba) means “proper, upright, virtuous”.
Identification
The Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetle is 2.0 to 3.0 mm in length.
- Male: Head is pale, with a black margin on the top.
- Male: Pronotum is black, with light yellow to orange, narrow margin along the front, connecting or nearly connecting rectangular-shaped spots of the same color, which are on either side of the pronotum.
- Female: Head is black
- Female: Pronotum same as male, but lacks the narrow margin connecting the two side patches.
- Elytra are black and lightly punctured with two large, yellow to orange spots located in the middle of the elytra (one spot per elytron). At the back of the elytra, there are 4 yellow, white, or orange spots (2 per elytron).
- Easily confused with other Sigil Lady Beetles (genus Hyperaspis), Spurleg Lady Beetles (genus Brachiacantha), and Twice-stabbed Lady Beetles (genus Chilocorus).
Habitat
Likely woodlands, orchards, and sometimes found in fields.
General Range
Eastern and central United States.
Food
Scale insects.
Life Cycle
One study found the Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetle to be most abundant in July and August.
Little is known about this insect.
More Information
You can find more information about Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetles using the following links:
Vermont Distribution
Visit the iNaturalist Observation Map and Occurrence Records to find out where Esteemed Sigil Lady Beetles have been seen in Vermont.
