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)

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Discussion

GlossyGal wrote:
4 Jan 2025
Great! Thank you for your interest and help Alison.

Orcus australasiae
AlisonMilton wrote:
4 Jan 2025
@GlossyGal Hi, I'm not an entomologist but I'm looking into it. A possible ID from iNaturlaist but I need to look furhter. May be out of my arnge of expertise. Next week is a scheduled 'clean-up' week for moderators so maybe someone else will look at this and come up with an ID.

Orcus australasiae
AlisonMilton wrote:
4 Jan 2025

Orcus australasiae
GlossyGal wrote:
4 Jan 2025
Thank you for your comment Alison - I'd thought the same thing (hence the mention of the size), but I couldn't find any more suitable options. Do you have any clues/suggestions?

Orcus australasiae
AlisonMilton wrote:
4 Jan 2025
@GlossyGal Orcus australasiae are larger.

Orcus australasiae

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Orcus australasiae

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