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COCCINELLIDAE: Lady Beetles or Lady Bird Beetles
Ladybird
beetles are an easily recognised family due to their characteristic
oval shape and usually bright, often spotted colouring. They range
in size from 1 to 15 millimetres in body length and have short antennae
and legs, which are usually hidden beneath the body when viewed
from above. The larvae of ladybirds are soft-bodied and like adults are often variously coloured with spots and are usually adorned with spines. Almost all ladybirds are predatory as both adults and larvae, and feed on a variety of other small soft-bodied insects such as aphids, scale and mites. As such ladybirds are viewed as beneficial insects to have around as they help to control many agricultural and horticultural pests. For more ladybeetle species visit the Australian Insect Common Names - Coccinellidae section found here.
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