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Insect Gallery

Beetles - "Lady Bugs"

order Coleoptera

Superfamily Cucujoidea, family Coccinellidae (Ladybird Beetles)

There are actually several kinds.

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) Harmonia axyridis

Lots of variation in pattern.  Red to orange.  Face can be mostly black to mostly white.  Lots of black dots to no dots.  Wing case hinge: centered black stripe varies from none to long, no white.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005

(Introduced from Asia)

Convergent Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) Hippodamia convergens

Longer wing case.  Wing case hinge has a centered narrow black stripe and narrow white bands.  Spots are larger at wing case tips.  Head is black, ringed in white with two white "eyes".  These bugs swarm in huge numbers when it is time to hibernate.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, August 2004

pupa - not sure from which species

Photo taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

Similar Species

Variegated Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) Hippodamia variegate

Less dots and none near head, largest center back.  Wing case hinge has a centered wide black dot and white.

"no common name" (Lady Bug) Cycloneda munda

No Spots.  Orangey-red.  "U-shaped white on face makes black "eyes".  Wing case has white edge at neck and sides.

Spotless Ladybird Beetle (Lady Bug) Cycloneda sanguinea

No Spots or very tiny.  Orangey-red.  "U-shaped white on face makes black "eyes" with white dot at top.

"no common name" (Lady Bug) Cycloneda polita

No Spots.  Red.  Long mouth parts.  "U-shaped white on face makes black "eyes".

Superfamily Cucujoidea, family Coccinellidae (Ladybird Beetles)

Mealybug Destroyer Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

This is the larva of a little black beetle. It covers itself in waxy tufts.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2006

Similar Species

Superfamily Cucujoidea, family Coccinellidae (Ladybird Beetles)

Mealybug Destroyer Scymnus sp.

yellow legs = Scymnus sp., dark brown/black legs = Cryptolaemus

family Cleridae (Checkered Beetles)

4-spotted Checkered Beetle Pelonides quadripunctatus

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2007

On Frog Fruit leaf.

family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Eight-spotted Flea Beetle Omophoita cyanipennis

This is not a "Lady Bug".

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2005

family Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica undecimpunctata

This looks like a "Green Lady Bug".  Adults eat plants.  They carry a bacteria that causes wilt in cucumbers and melons.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, November 2005

Larva name:  Southern Corn Rootworm

Larva are about 3/4" long, off white, wrinkly, six long brown legs.  They eat roots and stems.  Pupa are round-ish, about 1/4" long, off white.