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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2001 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) are important predators of crop and garden pests. In order to utilize the full predatory potential of these beneficial species, we need to be able to identify and classify the species so that pertinent literature can be accessed on their diverse feeding habits, distributions, and seasonality. The present work provides an updated key to the 60 genera occurring in North America, summarizes distributional data, and provides information on morphology, habits and habitats. The classification of the family is reviewed and existing problems are addressed. This work will aid agriculturalists, biological control practitioners, and ecologists in identifying and better understanding the lady beetle species occurring in North America. Technical Abstract: The present work provides an updated key to the 60 genera of the family Coccinellidae occurring in North America, summarizes distributional data, and provides information on morphology, habits and habitats. The classification of the family is reviewed and existing problems are addressed. This work will aid agriculturalists, biological control practitioners, and ecologists in identifying and better understanding the lady beetle species occurring in North America. |
