Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Allenius

Allenius is a genus of lady beetles in the family Coccinellidae, containing a single species, Allenius iviei.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
191 w
Citations
6
Source
Allenius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Coccinellidae
Subfamily: Microweiseinae
Tribe: Microweiseini
Genus: Allenius
Escalona & Ślipiński, 2012
Species

Allenius iviei Escalona & Ślipiński, 20121

Allenius is a genus of lady beetles in the family Coccinellidae, containing a single species, Allenius iviei.123

Allenius iviei, known as the enigma ladybeetle4 is found in the U.S. states of Idaho and Montana. It is one of the rarest insects of the United States and was discovered in 2009. The pronotal plate of this species is very elongated, and easily conceals the head from above. The species is unique in the ability to tuck its head into its thorax for protection.5

References

References

  1. Hermes E. Escalona & Adam Ślipiński (2012). "Generic revision and phylogeny of Microweiseinae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)". Systematic Entomology. 37 (1): 125–171. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2011.00601.x.
  2. "ITIS, Integrated Taxonomic Information System". Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  3. "Allenius". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  4. Bailey, James, Adalia, Field Guide to Ladybugs of the US and Canada, archived from the original on September 22, 2016, retrieved 24 July 2016
  5. Live Science Staff (October 24, 2012). "'Headless' ladybug identified as new species". LiveScience. Retrieved October 27, 2012.