Lesson 1: Ladybird Beetle

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Module 6 Predators and Parasites
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
Lessons
Modules

Lesson 1 Ladybird Beetle
Several species of ladybird beetles are predators
of a number of sorghum insect pests. As a
group, adults are semi- or hemispherical insects
(Fig.) but, depending on species, are orange,
red, tan, gray, or black, and spotted or marked
with contrasting colors of red, yellow, black, or
white.
Adult Ladybird Beetles
Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum
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Lesson 1 Ladybird Beetle
They are small, varying in length from 1.5 to 6.0
mm (Fig.). Ladybird beetles are sometimes
confused with certain leaf beetles.
Ladybird Beetle
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Lesson 1 Ladybird Beetle
Females lay 200-500 yellow eggs in clusters
(Left Fig.).
Ladybird Beetle Eggs
The larvae are elongate, tapering posterior
(Right Fig.). Their general color is dark with
bright markings and the bodies are covered with
spines.
Ladybird Beetle Larva
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Lesson 1 Ladybird Beetle
Both adults and larvae are beneficial. They
are predacious on aphids, scale insects, spider
mites, eggs of a number of insects, and small
larvae of many pests. Since ladybird beetles
reproduce rapidly and are voracious feeders, they
are among the most beneficial of all predators.
Larvae have been observed to devour 11-25 aphids
daily, and adults 16-56.
Ladybird Beetle feeding on aphids