There is no information available on this topic for Calvia quatuordecimguttata, but other lady beetles are known to use visual and chemical cues for location of prey and mates.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
There is no special conservation status for Calvia quatuordecimguttata.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
Eggs are laid in the early spring by adults that have overwintered. After larvae emerge and then pupate, like other Coccinellidae, adults live for a few weeks in the summer until the weather cools. The final generation overwinters as diapause occurs. Adults of C. quatuordecimguttata cannot mate and reproduce until after emerging from diapause in the spring. Development of C. quatuordecimguttata is temperature dependent, with beetles that develop at lower temperatures reaching a greater size. The time of development from egg to adult is also temperature dependent, taking about 14 days at 30 degrees Celsius, while taking up to 115 days at lower temperatures (10 degrees Celsius).
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis ; diapause
There are no known adverse affects of Calvia quatuordecimguttata on humans.
There is little information available on this topic for Calvia quatuordecimguttata, but it is likely that this species is beneficial for controlling aphid populations on crops. In Europe, C. quatuordecimguttata can also control psyllid populations on crops.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Calvia quatuordecimguttata is a significant predator of many species of aphids and psyllids, including Chaitophorus tremulae, Cavariella konoi, Aphis farinosa, Eucalipterus tiliae, Euceraphis punctipennis, and Macrosiphoniella artemisiae. It can be prey to other species of Coccinellidae, including Harmonia axyridis. C. quatuordecimguttata can also serve as host to Coccipolipus hippodamiae, a sexually transmitted mite.
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
Calvia quatuordecimguttata are insectivores and thrive on psyllids and aphids. Feeding on psyllids seems to promote faster larval development, especially Cacopsylla mali. Six Aphididae species have been identified as essential food for C. quatuordecimguttata: Chaitophorus tremulae, Cavariella konoi, Aphis farinosa, Eucalipterus tiliae, Euceraphis punctipennis, and Macrosiphoniella artemisiae.
Animal Foods: insects
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Calvia quatuordecimguttata is native to northern North America, northern Europe, and western and central Asia. In North America, this range extends from northern California to Alaska on the west coast and from New Jersey to northern Canada on the east coast. Calvia quatuordecimguttata is the only North American representative of its genus.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: holarctic
Calvia quatuordecimguttata is found in forests of deciduous trees and shrubs. This species also lives amongst flowering plants that are present in dry grassland. It can also be found on agricultural land, living on crops.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
Eggs of C. quatuordecimguttata are laid in spring, as early as March. The time of development from egg to adult depends on temperature, taking about 14 days at warmer temperatures, while taking up to 115 days at lower temperatures. Adults live for an extended period after that through summer (several more weeks or months), until temperatures cool in the fall and adults enter diapause, emerging again the following spring.
Calvia quatuordecimguttata, which is commonly referred to as the cream-spotted lady beetle, is polymorphic and shows great variety in coloration and elytral patterns. In North America, C. quatuordecimguttata was documented to have three different elytral patterns: black with 14 white spots, black with 2 or 4 red spots, and orange with 12 black spots. Other documented forms are maroon-brown in color. C. quatuordecimguttata ranges in length from 3.50 to 5.50 mm and it is oval in form and weakly convex. The intercoxal process of the prosternum is smooth and slightly convex with a weak lateral ridge that extends anteriorly as far as the anterior margin of the coxa. C. quatuordecimguttata has 2 spurs on the apex of the middle and hind tibia.
Range length: 3.5 to 5.5 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic ; poisonous
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Intraspecific and interspecific predation of the eggs of Calvia quatuordecimguttata is common. Harmonia axyridis is an invasive coccinellid that is known to eat the eggs of many other coccinellids. Calvia quatuordecimguttata is well protected against the attack of Harmonia axyridis due to a compound that coats the outer surface of its eggs. The effect of this compound may be due to the abundance of hydrocarbons on the coating of the egg as well as the presence of alkenes. There are also patches of a red substance that coat the eggs, which is believed to be a type of acid. As a coccinellid, C. quatuordecimguttata can likely reflex bleed, emitting toxins from joints in the exoskeleton when threatened. The different colorations and elytral patterns function as a warning sign to predators.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic
There is little to no information available on this topic for Calvia quatuordecimguttata. It is known that both male and female cream-spotted lady beetles can have multiple mates.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
There is little to no information available on this topic for Calvia quatuordecimguttata.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
There is no parental involvement besides the provisioning of eggs. Additionally, the eggs of C. quatuordecimguttata are coated with a compound that protects the eggs from predatory attacks by Harmonia axyridis.
Parental Investment: pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female)
