A swarm of the seven-spot ladybird Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) carried on a cruise ship

Abstract

Several thousands of the seven-spot ladybird Coccinella septempunctata L., descended upon a cruise ship over several hours in daylight while in port in Morocco in April 2009. The ship had recently arrived from South America. Despite a treatment of fumigation beetles were found living after fourteen days following the inoculation event. This observation indicates an ocean transmission of large numbers of this species could take place and might have happened in the past.

Keywords

• swarm
• ship transport
• coccinella septempunctata
• invasion