Ladybird Beetles | |
![]() Convergent Lady Beetles | ![]() Adult ladybird beetle (ladybug) and aphids |
![]() Multicolored Asian lady beetle | ![]() Ladybird beetle larvae Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, CO State University, Bugwood.org |
Larvae and adults. Adults will also feed on nectar, pollen, and honeydew.
Aphids, spider mites, scale insects, whiteflies, leaf beetle larvae, some insect eggs and small caterpillars.
Eggs: Tiny, bright yellow-orange, spindle-shaped eggs laid upright in clusters of 5-30, usually located near colonies of insects they eat. May be mistaken for eggs of some pest beetles such as Colorado potato beetle, Mexican bean beetle, and squash beetle.
Larvae: Look completely different from adults, being flattened and tapered, “alligator-like”; up to 1/4" long; usually dark colored with orange or yellow markings; many species have short bristles on some parts of the body; and 3 prominent pairs of legs. Larvae are very active, crawling about quickly as they hunt for prey.
Adults: Vary in size but average 1/4 - 3/8” long; typically round or oval and convex in shape; bright and varied colors ranging from black to pink, yellow, or red; with or without spots on wings. Convergent lady beetle is usually orange with a number of small black spots; twice-stabbed lady beetle is black with two red spots on its back; seven-spotted lady beetle is orange or red with 7 spots on its back, multicolored Asian lady beetles have highly variable spot patterns.
Contributors: Mike Raupp, Jon Traunfeld, and Chris Sargent