Lady beetles (Coccinellidae)


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)


Lady beetles (Coccinellidae)

Announcements

There are currently no announcements.

Discussion

14 Jul 2025
Thanks Clare

Novius bellus
13 Jul 2025
Novius Bellus?

Novius bellus
5 Jul 2025
Scymnus?

Novius bellus
KimberiRP wrote:
13 Jun 2025
Larva of a Ladybird beetle, family Coccinellidae. It appears to be preparing to pupate on the leaf.

Coccinellidae (family)
arjay wrote:
24 May 2025
Gosh.

Coccinellidae sp01
831,865 sightings of 22,904 species from 14,423 members
CCA 3.0 | privacy
NatureMapr is developed by at3am IT Pty Ltd and is proudly Australian made