Large Coccinellidae Collected in the Nebraska Panhandle Reveal High Diversity, Rare Species, and Undocumented Plant Associations

Museum records and recent field surveys provide new insights into the diversity, collection methods, seasonal ecology, and plant associations of lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in western Nebraska. More than 2500 specimens exist, with data on collection methods for 1882 specimens representing museum holdings and surveys conducted between 2012 and 2025. Most specimens were obtained by hand collection (1244; 66%), followed by sweep net sampling (292; 15%) and blacklight traps (261; 13.8%), whereas yellow pan traps produced 85 (4.5%) of all specimens. These proportions represent the composition of the collection and should not be interpreted as estimates of relative sampling efficiency because effort was not standardized among methods. More than half of all museum specimens of Adalia bipunctata, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata tibialis Timberlake, and Myzia interrupta (Casey) originated from a single continuously operated blacklight trap, while 26% of Coccinella transversoguttata were captured in yellow pan traps. Plant associations were documented for 1070 specimens and revealed recurring species-specific patterns in available records. Notably, 50% of Coleomegilla maculata lengi were collected on knotweeds (Polygonum spp.), 27% of Hippodamia parenthesis were associated with alfalfa, and two Scymnus species were collected from elm. Native sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) were particularly important, with over 75% of Coccinella monticola, C. novemnotata, and Hippodamia convergens collected apparently feeding on this host. Observations of lady beetles associated with sunflowers, in the absence of aphids or other apparent prey, suggest late-season phytophagy or exploitation of plant exudates rather than predation by adult beetles. Focused surveys with broadly similar search effort revealed striking interannual variation in detections, with several species frequently encountered in 2024 detected infrequently or not detected in 2025. Collectively, these records document the persistence of rare native coccinellids in western Nebraska, identify potentially important plant associations and detection methods, and provide baseline occurrence and natural-history information for future standardized monitoring.