Insects
Beetles (Coleoptera)
Lady beetles (Coccinellidae)

Lady beetle (Coccinellidae) field guide

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There are 64 genera and 364 species of Coccinellidae described from Australia (Australian Faunal Directory, 2025)

A guide to the beetles of Australia by G. Hangay & P. Zborowski (CSIRO Publishing, 2010) lists the family's characteristics:

  • body broadly ovate, highly convex, usually glabrous but some finely pubescent, 1-7 mm in length
  • yellow to black, often bicoloured or spotted, some with metallic shine
  • head deflexed, concealed from above by prothorax
  • antennae short, usually 11-segmented, including a 3-segmented club
  • tarsal formula [number of tarsal segments on front, middle and hind legs] 4-4-4, but appears to be 3-3-3 as the third segment is minute and hidden

Adults and larvae of most species are predators of aphids, mealybugs, scales or other small insects and mites. Exceptions are Epilachna species, which are herbivorous on Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae, and Illeis galbula which feeds on powdery mildews (Australian beetles, Vol. 1, eds. J.F. Lawrence & A. Slipinski, CSIRO Publishing, 2013)

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Lady beetles (Coccinellidae)

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Apolinus lividigaster (Yellow Shouldered Ladybird)

Apolinus lividigaster
Apolinus lividigaster
Larvae

Larvae
Apolinus lividigaster
Larvae

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle)

Coccinellidae (family)
Coccinellidae (family)
Coccinellidae (family)
Coccinellidae (family)

Coelophora inaequalis (Variable Ladybird beetle)

Coelophora inaequalis
Coelophora inaequalis
Larva

Larva
Coelophora inaequalis
Larva

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird)

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird)

Harmonia conformis
Pupae

Pupae
Nymph

Nymph
Harmonia conformis
Pupae
Nymph

Harmonia testudinaria (Tortoise-shelled ladybird)

Harmonia testudinaria
Harmonia testudinaria
Harmonia testudinaria
Harmonia testudinaria

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird)

Hippodamia variegata
Pupa

Pupa
Showing the variable spots on the elytra

Showing the variable spots on the elytra
Hippodamia variegata
Pupa
Showing the variable spots on the elytra

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird)

Illeis galbula
Illeis galbula
LARVAE

LARVAE
Illeis galbula
LARVAE

Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird)

Micraspis frenata
Micraspis frenata
Micraspis frenata
Larva

Larva
Larva
821,401 sightings of 22,464 species from 14,161 members
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