Spider mite destroyer

Beneficial

Spider mite destroyer

Stethorus punctum (Leconte)

Coleoptera: Coccinellidae


Adults are oval, convex, uniformly shiny black, and covered with sparse, fine yellowish to white hairs (A). The larva is gray to blackish and has many long-branched hairs and black patches (B). As the larva matures, it becomes reddish, at first on the edges of the body, and eventually entirely just prior to pupation (C). Note: This species is sensitive to most broad-spectrum insecticides.