There was different between two differential geographical and environmental condition areas on elytra color expression patterns of the multicolored Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis). Especially, it was investigated that expression rates of melanic patterns (conspicua, spectabilis and axyridis) relatively increased in overwintering populations collected in highly mean temperature and longer cumulative daylength area. In addition, in the same collection site, the seasonal difference had influenced on color patterns of H. axyridis. Although these effects didn"t were not observed in the laboratory, environmental conditions such as temperature or cumulative daylength might be factors that gave an effect on color pattern formation.

As an effective generalist predator of aphids and other hemipteran pests, Harmonia axyridis has been a successful biological control agent. Interestingly, it was known that there were varied in color patterns on H. axyridis elytra. In fact, Seo & Youn (2007) reported that H. axyridis had five color patterns, for example, succinea 1, 2, conspicua, spectabilis, and axyridis. But there are uncertain that H. axyridis elytra colour patterns are regulated by genetic polymorphism. So we tried to what is the reason that color patterns are greatly variable. To identify DNA markers linked to a elytra polymorphism, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was performed on DNA samples from four female succinea, conspicua, spectabilis and Coccinella septempunctata which is another species in Coccinellidae. AFLP analysis with the restriction endonuclease combination EcoRⅠ and MseⅠwas performed. Using 12 AFLP primer pairs, nine AFLP fragments which is specific between succinea, conspicua, spectabilis was identified. These nine AFLP fragments were isolated, cloned and sequenced. Subsequent UPGMA cluster analysis revealed three major group of H. axyridis populations. These genetic tree showed that H. axyridis elytra colour diversity was affected by genetic polymorphism. For more genetically understanding elytra colour genes, different primer combinations may be need to be generate enough polymorphic markers. These genetic analyses may be facilitate the understanding of molecular mechanism behind wing colour pattern formation.

The multicolored Asian lady beetles (Harmonia axyridis) has characteristic color patterns, which show great variability within species. Up to now, it has been well known that main factors affected on individual color pattern variations in the population of H. axyridis are external, physical, and environmental characteristics. Indeed, there is as yet no evidence to indicate whether the variation is genetic or environmental factors. Also the factors which produce this variation are unknown in this species, although it is suspected that much of the variation is under genetic control. However, the genetic relationships among many of color types were investigated by observing the progeny of each particular pairs. It is worth mentioning a few particular breeding cases to illustrate certain facets of variability, and to indicate examples suitable for genetic analysis of the color pattern variation.