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What kind of ladybug
Is this an Ash Gray, it’s spots are creamy brown not black? Thanks
Amber
Tn
Hi Amber from Tennessee,
This is a Fifteen Spotted Ladybird, Anatis labiculata. BugGuide illustrates two different color variations on this species.
Here’s a ladybird?? I found today
I’m so curious …I had never seen this bug in my garden before and I am assuming it’s a ladybird of some sort. I just released a couple of cartons of ladybirds about 2 weeks ago in my garden but none looked like this. Thanks in advance for taking a peek at this one
Sandra
hi Sandra,
This greatly resembles a photo we found on BugGuide listed as an “unusual colour form” of Adalia bipunctata, the Two Spotted Ladybird Beetle.
Correction: (05/11/2008)
Hi, Daniel:
A couple quick corrections to recent postings, if I may: … The “Two-spotted ladybird beetle: unusual color form” is actually a “pine lady beetle” in the genus Mulsantia. M. picta is the common species, but this may be a different one. Otherwise, spot on as usual:-) Keep up the great work! Cheers,
Eric
Is this eating my squash?
The squash in my garden were not looking too good, then I discovered a orange and black spotted bugs that looked kind of like Ladybirds. I told one of the ladies at the nursery about my squash getting eaten and about the orange and black spotted bug, and she confirmed they were Ladybugs and not to put insecticide on the plants but let the good bugs do the work. HA!! Now whatever is eating my squash was going to get it. However my squash keep looking worse and worse even with the appearance of more and more Ladybird Bugs. I find these bugs on healthy leaves, then check back a few hours later and the leaves are all torn up. Could they be what is eating my squash!?! Are these wolves in sheep’s clothing?!? HELP!!!
Bard Letsinger
Victoria,Texas (110 miles south of Houston along the coast)
Hi Bard,
You are correct, this is a Squash Ladybird Beetle, Epilachna borealis. This species and its close relative, the Mexican Bean Beetle, Epilachna varivestis, are rarities among the Ladybird Beetles which are otherwise carniverous. You can view other images of BugGuide, which indicates the range of this species as “Scattered distribution over the eastern half of th U.S. south of Massachusetts.”
Bugs found in the hills of Pasadena
Hi there- I found these bugs in the hills overlooking Pasadena- they look tick-like, but are they? These specimens are either dead or dormant. there was one live one that flipped its body up and down while clinging to a grass blade. I teach a science class to 4th grade kids and they want to know what kind of bugs they are- any ideas? thanks in advance,
Ed
Hi Ed,
These are the Pupae of Ladybird Beetles, or in slang, Ladybugs. Sorry we do not know the species.
what are these bugs?
Hello,
I found these bugs on a beech tree, near a lake in Westchester County, about 1 hour north of Manhattan. A lake is nearby, some bugs were burrowed into the bark. What are they? Thanks
Irene
Hi Irene,
This is a Ladybird Beetle Larva and several Pupae. “Ladybugs” are beneficial insects that feed on Aphids, Scale and other injurious plant pests.
mystery beetle
Dear Bugman,
I looked at every beetle page and did not find this one. It is a longer, blunt oval….not a roundish oval like a ladybug; but it is about the size of a ladybug. It was on the stem of a pickerel weed in a pond. I could not get closer or a different angle as I was hanging out of my boat with my camera arm stretched into the clump of water plants. Photographed August 15, in a small lake in northeast CT. I couldn’t see with my eyes what it was doing very well…seemed busy at that spot though. Thank you for your help, and thank you for years of pleasure just cruising the photos and reading the comments. I have found almost every insect I looked for on your site…or at least found a clue to family.
Emma
Hi Emma,
Thanks for the compliment. Since most Ladybird Beetles are characterized by spots, we are very curious what has earned Coleomegilla maculata the singular distinction of the common name Spotted Lady Beetle, at least according to BugGuide.
unusal ladybug
Dear Bugman:
I know your swamped right now, but I could really use your help. I found a unique lady bird beetle in my backyard which I need to identify. Entomology is a hobby for me and I’m very interested in being able to positively identify this insect. The pronotum has the "M" marking so I thought that it may be an Asian Ladybug – but I’m not sure. I really appreciate any help you could give identifying this insect. Photos of the insect are attached. Respectfully,
Sarah Vitale
Hi Sarah,
Your lovely specimen is an Eyespot Ladybird, Anatis mali, a native species in North America (though you did not provide us with a location).
deformed ladybug?
Is this a ladybug? If so, what’s wrong? I thought it might still be in morphing process.
Lee Hooker
Dallas, GA
Hi again Lee,
We are not sure if this is part of normal metamorphosis or not. Perhaps the Ladybird has just emerged from the pupa and the wing elytra have not fully expanded and hardened. It is also possible that this is a birth defect brought on by trauma or genetics due to global warming or rampant pesticide use. We favor the metamorphosis hypothesis.
Two-Toned Multicolored Asian Ladybird
(05/08/2007) identify
Hi there, we just returned form a family vacation to Orlando, FL. While at Disney World, this little lady (or fellow) landed on my daughter. The odd thing is I have not seen a ladybird beetle with this very odd coloration.while I am adept at photoshop, I assure you this is how this critter looked!!!! 1/3 orange, 1/3 golden and 1/3 cream. There were no photos on your site that I could find showing this coloration, so thought I’d see what you had to say. Perhaps it’s completely common, but I’ve not seen one like it before. Thanks!
Tara
Photographer/Mixed Media Artist
Bicolored Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetle
Hi Tara,
Thank you for confessing to your knowledge of Photoshop. This bicoloration is unusual. This is a Multicolored Asian Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis. It is the species responsible for huge aggregations entering peoples’ homes in the eastern U.S. We have located a wonderful table of color variations on a British website that also calls it the Harlequin Ladybird or Halloween Ladybird. BugGuide also has many photos of this species, but none like yours. BugGuide indicates that “The only consistent marking is a strip of color along the edge of the pronotum (between the head and the wings) but the color of that strip can vary from white to red. In the east, the pronotum is usually white with four black spots, which range from small spots to large patches that may blend together to look like a black M (or W). ”
Bug Identification Please
Hi,
The following photo was taken a few days ago, in Northern Virginia, on a grapevine. The insect on the right appears to be a ladybug larvae. The unknown insect on the left was feeding on the larvae.
Thanks,
John
Hi John,
The unknown insect below (we rotated your image to conform to the aesthetics of our site) is an immature Two Spotted Stink Bug, Perillus bioculatus. BugGuide has a photo that shows more black on the nymph, but this species has some degree of variability. The Two Spotted Stink Bug is an important predator of the Colorado Potato Beetle, but sadly, in your example, it has eaten another predator, a Ladybird Beetle Larva. We have gotten numerous recent identification requests for the Ladybird Larvae, but the photos have been blurry. It is nice to be able to post your crisp and dramatic image.
new bee?
Hi Bugman,
I don’t like bugs, I think they are scary. So forgive me for not browsing through previously identified bugs. Last week I’ve found this bug as he came crawling out of my keyboard. I’ve asked everyone I know, but nobody knows what this could be. It didn’t scare me that much, I think this dude’s quite cool. He looks like an ant wearing a bee costume. I hope you can help me so I can rest knowing the name of this guy. Thank you for your reply!
Joy
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hi Joy,
People are often very surprised to hear that those “Alligator Bugs” are actually immature Ladybird Beetles, or Ladybugs.
Please id?
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
This is a Ladybird Beetle Larva. Most people don’t associate the fierce but small larva with the popular orange and black spotted adult Ladybug.
