Adonis' Ladybird vs Ciliated German Pellitory

Hippodamia variegata compared with Anacyclus ciliatus

Key Differences

  • Adonis' Ladybird is Endangered while Ciliated German Pellitory is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Adonis' Ladybird Ciliated German Pellitory
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Insecta (Insects) Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles) Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family Coccinellidae Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus Hippodamia Anacyclus
Species Hippodamia variegata Anacyclus ciliatus

Conservation Status

Adonis' Ladybird

EN — Endangered

Ciliated German Pellitory

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Adonis' Ladybird Ciliated German Pellitory
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Adonis' Ladybird

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, montane grasslands and shrublands, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Europe (5 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Chile). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Ciliated German Pellitory

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Adonis' Ladybird

The Adonis' Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) is a species in the genus Hippodamia. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, montane grasslands and shrublands, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic r.

Ciliated German Pellitory

Ciliated German pellitory (Anacyclus ciliatus) is an annual or short-lived perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin. It produces prostrate to ascending stems bearing finely divided, feathery leaves and daisy-like flower heads with white ray florets and a yellow disc. The species grows in dry, open habitats such as rocky slopes, garrigue, abandoned fields, roadsides, and coastal scrub, preferring calcareous soils with low fertility and good drainage. Its distribution spans southern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, encompassing the core of the Mediterranean climatic zone. Anacyclus ciliatus is classified as Least Concern, with widespread populations across its native range. The genus Anacyclus includes several species with similar morphology, and its taxonomy has been subject to revision. Like many Mediterranean annuals, ciliated German pellitory completes its life cycle during the cool, wet winter and spring months, producing abundant seed before the summer drought. It is a component of traditional Mediterranean dry grassland and rocky vegetation communities. Some Anacyclus species have been investigated for medicinal properties, particularly root extracts showing anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Conservation of Mediterranean garrigue and dry grassland habitats benefits this species alongside many other endemic plants of the region.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia