Distributions of agrobiont lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) among crop and non-crop habitats within an agricultural landscape in east-central South Dakota, USA

Alternative habitats to predominant corn and soybean fields may help to stem declines of native lady beetles in central North America, but their relative values to native lady beetles have not been directly compared. The goal of this 2-year study was to compare the abundance and species composition of native agrobiont lady beetles among habitats such as corn, winter grains, prairie, and arboreal tracts across three seasons (late spring, summer, and autumn) in eastern South Dakota, USA. Yellow sticky traps were used to sample a total of 797 individuals and 13 species of lady beetles. Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake was the most abundant species and found predominantly in corn and arboreal habitats. Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville was the second-most abundant species and found mainly in prairie and crop habitats. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) was sampled only in 2023 in low numbers but preferred arboreal habitat to other habitats. Hippodamia parenthesis (Say) preferred winter grain and prairie habitats over corn and arboreal habitats. Cycloneda munda (Say) preferred corn to other habitats. This study was designed to include habitats that would optimize detection of Hip. tredecimpunctata tibialis Timberlake, which has declined in recent years, but it was not sampled from any of the habitats. Prospects are discussed for conserving native agrobiont lady beetles that prey on crop pests among habitats within agricultural landscapes in eastern South Dakota.

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