Pigmentation Variation in the 14-Spot Ladybird Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Edirne Populations, Turkey

Authors: SELÇUK YURTSEVER, SELDA KORKMAZ, HASAN ARDALI

Abstract: Frequency differences in the 2 different coloured forms of the 14-spot ladybird Propylea quatuordecimpunctata in the Edirne populations were investigated. The results indicated that black individuals tend to occur more frequently in the habitats than in shady habitats. The body length of the black coloured 14-spot ladybirds was significantly smaller than that of the yellow individuals. The pooled data consisted of 66 % black and 34 % yellow forms.

Keywords: Melanism, thermal selection, 14-spot ladybird, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, Coccinellidae

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