NATURAL ENEMIES
Picture of adult lady beetle
Adults

Picture of lady beetle larva
Larva

Picture of lady beetle larva
Larva

Picture of a mass of Lardy beetles on the bark of a tree
Ladybugs on Bark

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Convergent lady beetle

Description:
Convergent lady beetles are also called "ladybugs" or ladybird beetles. The adult beetle is orange with 6 small dark spots on each wing cover. The segment behind the head is black with a white margin and 2 convergent white dashes. The larva is soft-bodied, gray and orange markings, and covered with rows of raised black spots. There are a number of naturally occurring and introduced lady beetle species.

Benefit:
Larvae and adults feed primarily on aphids, but they will also feed on scales, eggs of larvae and other soft-bodied insects and mites. Adults occasionally feed on nectar, pollen and honeydew.

Life cycle:
Fed female beetles oviposit yellow oval-shaped eggs in clusters or singly near infestations of aphids or other pests. Hatching larvae develop through several instars until they pupate. Development from egg to adult takes 2 to 3 weeks.