Twenty-Two Spot Ladybird vs Elm Seed Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Twenty-Two Spot Ladybird Elm Seed Bug
Scientific Name Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata Arocatus melanocephalus
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Coccinellidae Lygaeidae
Size 3-4 mm 6-7 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Fungus Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions Europe Europe (native), Northwestern North America (invasive)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Twenty-Two Spot Ladybird

A tiny bright yellow ladybird with exactly 22 black spots, widespread across Europe. Unlike most ladybirds, it feeds on mildew rather than insects.

💡

Did You Know?

It is one of the few ladybirds that is entirely mycophagous, feeding exclusively on fungal growth.

Elm Seed Bug

A small seed bug native to southern Europe that has become an invasive nuisance pest in the northwestern United States. It aggregates in enormous numbers on and inside buildings in summer and fall.

💡

Did You Know?

Thousands can invade a single home seeking shelter, producing a foul odor when disturbed or crushed.