Identification Tools
The Lost Ladybug Project is happy to be able to share with you here a variety of ladybug identification tools. We hope you enjoy using them as much as we do! In addition, looking at the photos on the LLP Species List can be very helpful.
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LLP Basic Field Guide
Our own one page (2-sided) list of some common North American ladybugs as well as the suddenly disappearing natives we don't want anyone to miss.
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Ladybugs of South Dakota Poster
A beautiful 19" x 25" poster in pdf format, created by members of the Lost Ladybug South Dakota team. This poster shows 79 species encountered not only in South Dakota, but in many regions of central and western North America.
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Ladybugs of Maine Poster
A beautiful 19" x 25" poster in pdf format, created by members of the Lost Ladybug South Dakota team, faculty from the Universities of Maine and New Hampshire, and the Maine Forest Service and Department of Conservation. This poster shows 59 species encountered not only in Maine, but in many regions of northeastern North America.
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Discover Life ID Nature Guide
Specially developed for the Lost Ladybug Project, an online pictorial key - still under development. Please give us your feedback!
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Robert D. Gordon (1985)
From the Journal of the New York Entomological Society, "The Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) of America North of Mexico," the definitive dichotomous key for North American Coccinellidae. 912 pages. Contains keys, illustrations, and distribution maps for all species. Online version is also under development. Feedback will be appreciated!
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R. H. Johnson (1910)
Publshed by the Carnegie Institute of Washington in 1910, Determinate Evolution in the Color-Pattern of the Lady-Beetles by Roswell H. Johnson. This fascinating older text can be especially helpful in distinguishing similar species. Researchers should always check against the more recent Gordon (1985). Available as a Google online document as well as in pdf.
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C.G. Majka & S. Robinson (2009)
"Hyperaspis and Brachiacantha (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): two poorly known genera of native lady beetles in the Maritime Provinces." From the Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society, a dichotomous key to 10 species of Hyperaspis and 2 species of Brachiacantha with photos.
