The #22spot #ladybeetle #Psyllobora #vigintiduopunctata (#Cucujiformia) is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The adults and larvae #feed #mycetophagously on #fungi, specifically on powdery #mildews. When threatened, the beetle shows #thanatosis (plays dead) and secretes a defensive secretion. M. Dillen et al. (2017) studied #multitrophic #interactions between ladybird, mildew, and #oak trees.

© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2025

Ref
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176104

Photos
© S.F. Wirth

Symposium of the #MultiTroph project starting in Beijing today! #biodiversity, #subtropical #forest, #insects, #multitrophic #interactions, #ecosystemfunction, www.multitroph.com, www.bef-china.com, @multitroph

Next week, I'll be starting as a Juniorprofessor for Above-belowground #interaction #ecology in Würzburg!
Keen to continue working on
#globalchange
#multiplestressors
#Aboveground #belowground #foodwebs & #energyflux
#multitrophic interactions
... and more
Looking forward to it!
#newPI