Correspondence
Mistaken Identity
N Engl J Med 1998; 339:1559November 19, 1998
- Article
To the Editor:
While reading the July 9 issue of the Journal, my eye was caught by the striking photograph entitled “Ladybug on Aster.” What also caught my attention was that the beetle depicted is actually a spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi [Barber]; of subfamily Galerucinae) rather than a ladybug (Coccinellidae family), which is more correctly termed a ladybird beetle or lady beetle, since it is not a true bug. Ladybird beetles are easily distinguished from cucumber beetles by their short antennae, broad pronatum, and rounded abdomen. The distinction is important, since the ladybird beetle, by virtue of its voracious appetite for aphids, is the gardener's friend, whereas the cucumber beetle is a serious pest.
W. Charles O'Neill, M.D.
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322- Citing Articles (1)
Citing Articles
1
Gareth Weston, Fleur Cattrall, Alan O. Trounson, David L. Healy. (2000) Cloning: its relevance to monozygotic twins. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 40:3, 317-325
CrossRef
