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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #354658
Research Project: Productive Cropping Systems Based on Ecological Principles of Pest Management

Location: Integrated Cropping Systems Research

Title: Re-defining the known geographical distribution of Coleomegilla maculata lengi

Author
item Hesler, Louis
item BRUST, MATHEW - Chadron State College
item BARTLETT, PAMELA - South Dakota State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2017
Publication Date: 3/20/2018
Citation: Hesler, L.S., Brust, M.L., Bartlett, P.B. 2018. Re-defining the known geographical distribution of Coleomegilla maculata lengi [abstract]. North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America, Madison WI, March 18-21, 2018.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Coleomegilla maculata lengi (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is native to the eastern half of the United States. However, we recently collected several individuals of this lady beetle from =250 km beyond the western edge of its reputed range. We hypothesized that new records could indicate either that previous range characterization failed to include pre-existing collection records further west, or alternatively, that C. maculata lengi has recently expanded its geographic range. In order to test these hypotheses, we searched several institutional insect-collection databases for records of C. maculata lengi outside of its putative geographic range. We found many earlier records of C. maculata lengi beyond its reputed geographic range, and report those records here. Accordingly, the records establish that previous range characterization.substantially underestimated the geographic distribution of C. maculata lengi in North America.