Ladybirds (Beetles)Australoneda bourgeoisi Coccinella transversalis Harmonia conformis Olla v-nigrum Orcus australasiae
Images and Author Di Bickers ◦
Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) > listed on this page
- Coccinella transversalis (Small Transverse Ladybird)
- Coelophora inaequalis (Variable Ladybird Beetle)
- Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug Destroyer Ladybird)
- Diomus sp (Minute Ladybird)
- Diomus notescens (Minute Two-spotted Ladybird)
- Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (28 Spotted Ladybird)
- Harmonia conformis (Large Spotted Ladybird)
- Harmonia octomaculata (Three-banded Ladybird / Maculate Ladybird)
- Hippodamia variegata (Variable Ladybird Beetle)
- Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird)
- Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird)
- Orcus australasiae (Orange-spotted Ladybird)
- Orcus nummularis
The ladybirds of our childhood hold a special place for many of us. Whilst there are a few different versions of the nursery rhyme (some with grimmer tones then others), the lady bird song of my youth, is set in the scene of me as a young child, with a lady bird on my outstretched hand, making a wish and gently blowing on the lady bird whilst singing the rhyme:
Ladybird, ladybird fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone…
That memory of course is of a red coloured lady bird with black spots, a commonly depicted lady bird. Today, there are estimated to be about 5,000 different species of ladybirds in the world. From a range of different common names of Lady Beetles, Ladybird Beetles, Lady Bugs and Ladybug Beetles, in many cultures they are considered good luck.
With so many different species, it is no surprise that they come in different colours and patterns, beyond the UK seven-spot ladybird, with the shiny, red-and-black body.
Belonging to the family Coccinellidae, these small beetles range in size from 0.8 to 18 mm. Coccinellidae has its origins in the Latin word coccineus meaning ‘scarlet’. The word ‘Ladybird’ is thought to be inspired by the early images of the Virgin Mary who would appear wearing a red cloak.
Ladybird beetles are mostly loved by farmers and gardeners, as they are voracious predators of aphids, scale insects and mites. The mealy bug ladybird is a great example of biological control on the mealy bug pest. A single adult ladybird beetles is estimated to consume up to 5,000 aphids during their lifetime.
Most ladybird larvae will develop from egg to pupa in 3-5 weeks. After the 4th instar, the ladybird will transform into a pupa (similar to that of a chrysalis formed by a caterpillar before turning into a butterfly).
Most ladybird beetles have oval, dome-shaped bodies and six short legs. They vary between species, in that they can have spots, stripes or no markings at all. Some may vary in colour within the same species, such as the Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetles that are red (or sometimes orange), although they will have three spots on each side and one in the middle.
The bright colours of the Ladybird Beetles act as a defence mechanism, warning animals against eating them. When threatened, the Ladybird Beetles secrete an oily, yellow fluid from the joints in their legs — a reminder to predators that may have eaten them before that they taste disgusting!
Nature Photos from My Garden (Di Bickers) / Images © Dianne Bickers
Small Transverse Ladybird Beetle (Coccinella transversalis)
Medium in size, with body length up to 5 mm, the Transverse ladybirds are bright orange to orange-red or yellow in colour with black pattern on their back.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Coccinella
- Species: Coccinella transversalis
Footnote & References
- Small Transverse Ladybird Beetle (Coccinella transversalis), iNaturalistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/349064-Coccinella-transversalis
Variable Ladybird Beetle (Coelophora inaequalis)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Coelophora
- Species: Coelophora inaequalis
Footnote & References
- Variable Ladybird Beetle (Coelophora inaequalis), iNatualistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/333707-Coelophora-inaequalis
Mealybug Destroyer Ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Genus: Cryptolaemus
- Species: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Footnote & References
- Mealybug Destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/244084-Cryptolaemus-montrouzieri
Minute Ladybird (Diomus sp)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Scymninae
- Tribe: Diomini
- Genus: Diomus
Footnote & References
- Genus Diomus, iNaturalistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/173808-Diomus
Minute Two-spotted Ladybird (Diomus notescens)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Scymninae
- Tribe: Diomini
- Genus: Diomus
- Species: Diomus notescens
Footnote & References
- Minute Two-spotted Ladybird (Diomus notescens), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/388646-Diomus-notescens
28 Spotted Ladybird Beetle (Epilachna vigintioctopunctata)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Epilachninae
- Tribe: Epilachnini
- Genus: Henosepilachna
- Species: Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata
Footnote & References
- 28-Spotted Potato Ladybird (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/354799-Henosepilachna-vigintioctopunctata
Large Spotted Ladybird (Harmonia conformis)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Harmonia
- Species: Harmonia conformis
Footnote & References
- Harmonia conformis (Large Spotted Ladybird), Ausemade
- Large Spotted Ladybird (Harmonia conformis), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/210509-Harmonia-conformis
Three-banded Ladybird / Maculate Ladybird (Harmonia octomaculata)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Harmonia
- Species: Harmonia octomaculata
Footnote & References
- Three-banded Ladybird / Maculate Ladybird (Harmonia octomaculata), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/368264-Harmonia-octomaculata
Variable Ladybird Beetle (Hippodamia variegata)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Hippodamia
- Species: Hippodamia variegata
Footnote & References
- Variegated Lady Beetle Hippodamia variegata, iNaturalistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143034-Hippodamia-variegata
Fungus-eating Ladybird (Illeis galbula)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Illeis
- Species: Illeis galbula
Footnote & References
- Illeis galbula (Mulsant, 1850), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/d6d9b841-004c-4107-9d2a-dfc05d937fab
- Fungus-eating Ladybird (Illeis galbula), iNaturalistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/207648-Illeis-galbula
Striped Ladybird (Micraspis frenata)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Coccinellinae
- Tribe: Coccinellini
- Genus: Micraspis
- Species: Micraspis frenata
Footnote & References
- Striped Ladybird (Micraspis frenata), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/334609-Micraspis-frenata
Orange-spotted Ladybird (Orcus australasiae)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Chilocorinae
- Tribe: Chilocorini
- Genus: Orcus
- Species: Orcus australasiae
Footnote & References
- Orange-spotted Ladybird (Orcus australasiae), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/448284-Orcus-australasiae
Orcus nummularis
The presence of four maculae on each elytron distinguishes this species from the other Australian Orcus.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Subclass: Pterygota
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Infraorder: Cucujiformia
- Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Subfamily: Chilocorinae
- Tribe: Chilocorini
- Genus: Orcus
- Species: Orcus nummularis
Footnote & References
- Orcus nummularis, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/784962-Orcus-nummularis
- Orcus nummularis (Boisduval, 1835), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/16ea0809-eb6b-4c1d-a00d-dbd8256a29dd
- Orcus nummularis (Boisduval), Ladybirds of Australia by Adam Slipinski, Anne Hastings, Ben Boyd, https://www.ento.csiro.au/biology/ladybirds/lucid/key/lucidKey/Media/Html/orcusNummularis1.htm
Footnote & References
- Nature Photos from My Garden (Di Bickers), Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086275255680
- Lady Beetles Family Coccinellidae), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/48486-Coccinellidae
- Coccinellidae, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinellidae (last visited Oct. 17, 2022).
- Ladybird Ladybird, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladybird_Ladybird (last visited Oct. 17, 2022).
- Ladybirds guide: why do they have spots, do they bite, ladybird life cycle and how many species are there?, By Professor Helen Roy, 22 September 2022, Discover Wildlife, BBC Wildlife Magazine, https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/facts-about-ladybirds/
- Ladybirds, Series 18 | Episode 13, Gardening Australia, https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/ladybirds/9427770
- Ladybirds, every child’s favourite bug, By Amelia Reid, 31 July 2017, Australian Geographic, https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2017/07/ladybirds-every-childs-favourite-bug/
- Ladybird Beetles – Family Coccinellidae, Brisbane Insects and Spiders, http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_ladybirds/
- About Ladybirds, Ladybirds of Australia Web Site, authors Adam Slipinski, Anne Hastings, Ben Boyd, CSIRO, https://www.ento.csiro.au/biology/ladybirds/ladybirds.htm
Ladybirds (Beetles)Australoneda bourgeoisi Coccinella transversalis Harmonia conformis Olla v-nigrum Orcus australasiae
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