Normally a plant-eater, potato ladybird picks up some dirt. Kyogle, NSW.
A couple of Epilachna guttatopustulata devour a leaf. Kyogle, NSW.
Ladybird looks for aphid on the berries of a wild tobacco plant. The ants have the aphids hidden among the tightly packed berries. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Ladybug grazes on the rich layer of organic matter found on the trunk of a lemon tree. Kyogle, NSW.
The spent pupae of ladybugs clustered together on a stick. The pupae nestle in the moulted skin of the larva. Kyogle, NSW.
The spent pupae of ladybugs clustered together on a stick. The pupae nestle in the moulted skin of the larva. Kyogle, NSW.
Lady beetle (Coelophora inaequalis) traverses a gum leaf inhabited by baby Psyllids (jumping plant lice). Kyogle, NSW.
Yellow ladybird eggs on a yellow-green leaf. Kyogle, NSW.
Ladybird larvae are born and bred in aphid populations. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Ladybird larva attacks a yellow aphid from behind to avoid it's formidable pointy mouthparts. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Illeis galbula. Kyogle, NSW.
Tiny beetle is about 2mm long and looks like a ladybird. Here it navigates the bark of a small tree. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Kyogle, NSW.
Kyogle, NSW.
Ladybird and rose aphid - mortal enemies - share a rose leaf. Kyogle, NSW.
Ladybird rests after a big aphid meal in the curl of a rose leaf. More aphids roam nearby. Beetle should clean its pronotum if it wants to look innocent. Kyogle, NSW.
Ladybird was going around and around the tip of this sheoak leaf. It doesn't look good for the leaf. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Ladybirds take shelter inside a gumnut. Mundubbera, QLD.
Spotted ladybird grazed on a gum leaf. Mundubbera, QLD.
Six year old Matilda shows off the first ladybird pupa she's ever seen.
AKA Amber Spotted Ladybird. Mundubbera, QLD.
Ladybird beetle expires partially emerged from a pupa. Possibly a potato ladybird that had been parasitised prior to pupation or attacked during the vulnerable period of eclosure. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Ladybird beetle expires partially emerged from a pupa. Possibly a potato ladybird that had been parasitised prior to pupation or attacked during the vulnerable period of eclosure. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Ladybird beetle expires partially emerged from a pupa. Possibly a potato ladybird that had been parasitised prior to pupation or attacked during the vulnerable period of eclosure. Oxley Creek, QLD.
These pupae turned into orange ladybirds with black spots. Somewhat predictably you would think, but they started out as mostly black grubs. They're pretty ugly when they're grubs.
Ladybird beetle on the underside of a leaf.
Yellow-shouldered Ladybird finishes off a yellow milkweed aphid.
Oh hello there, you must be lunch. Kyogle, NSW.
One of the 'good' ladybirds, these eat aphids and other garden pests.
This could be a ladybird or it could just be a spotted leaf beetle. I'm going with ladybird because I like that better. Also, I'm too lazy to google right now.
Steelblue ladybird (Halmus sp.) grazes across a leaf. Oxley Creek, Qld.
Steelblue ladybird (Halmus sp.) with a yellow face and shoulders. Oxley Creek, Qld.