Difference between Henosepilachna argus and H. angusticollis (Coccinellidae)

There is a lot of confusion about the status of those two beetles. Since I have now seen them both, I think I am able to separate them.
Henosepilachna angusticollis is the species I see here regularly - more or less daily and all year round.

It lives (exclusively?) on squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium)
It has a pointed end and to me it seems it is paler and has slightly smaller spots than H. argus.

Henosepilachna argus lives on Bryonia sp, here on Bryonia cretica.

It is more rounded, a bit redder and has slightly larger spots.

Literature:
https://miblogdebichos.wordpress.com/coleopteros/coccinellidae/henosepilachna-angusticollis-reiche-1862/
https://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/cd_nom/794751/tab/fiche
https://biocostagranadinafauna.blogspot.com/2021/12/henosepilachna-angusticollis.html

Posted on January 12, 2024 08:13 PM by susanne-kasimir