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)

Featured sightings

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Melba, ACT - 10 Jan 2025 by kasiaaus

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at QPRC LGA - 27 Feb 2024 by arjay

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Nambucca Heads, NSW - 27 Nov 2022 by trevorpreston

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Belconnen, ACT - 26 May 2022 by JohnBundock

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Evatt, ACT - 26 May 2022 by TimL

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Tathra, NSW - 29 Nov 2016 by SteveMills

Latest sightings

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at O'Connor, ACT by Janet

Orcus australasiae (Orange-spotted Ladybird) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Florey, ACT by KorinneM

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Isaacs, ACT by Hejor1

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Isaacs, ACT by Hejor1

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Lyneham, ACT by citycritters

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Eden, NSW by AlisonMilton

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Bungonia, NSW by trevorpreston

Rhyzobius lophanthae at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton

Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (28-spotted potato ladybird or Hadda beetle) at Lyneham, ACT by citycritters

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Parkes, ACT by Hejor1

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Parkes, ACT by Hejor1

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Palerang, NSW by AlisonMilton

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Higgins, ACT by AlisonMilton

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Acton, ACT by AlisonMilton

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Copmanhurst, NSW by MazzV

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Belconnen, ACT by JohnGiacon

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Macquarie, ACT by dgb900

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Holt, ACT by AlisonMilton

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Manton, NSW by ConBoekel

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Nicholls, ACT by ploffskinpluffskin

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Gordon, ACT by GG

Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (28-spotted potato ladybird or Hadda beetle) at Kambah, ACT by Hejor1

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Kambah, ACT by Hejor1

Orcus australasiae at Emerald, VIC by GlossyGal

Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird) at Surf Beach, NSW by LyndalT

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Watson, ACT by abread111

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Undefined by Arni

Epilachna sp. (genus) (a ladybird beetle) at Copmanhurst, NSW by MazzV

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Cudgewa, VIC by LyndalT

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Bandiana, VIC by KylieWaldon

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Yarralumla, ACT by AndyRussell

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Jerrawa, NSW by ConBoekel

Coelophora inaequalis (Variable Ladybird beetle) at Caboolture South, QLD by trevorpreston

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at West Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Mongarlowe, NSW by LisaH

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Queanbeyan, NSW by Paul4K

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at O'Connor, ACT by ConBoekel

Scymnodes sp. (genus) (Unidentified Scymnodes ladybird) at Jingera, NSW by clarehoneydove

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Fyshwick, ACT by clarehoneydove

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Freshwater Creek, VIC by WendyEM

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1

Unidentified Lady beetle (Coccinellidae) at Surf Beach, NSW by LyndalT

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Curtin, ACT by iancurtin

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Batehaven, NSW by Hejor1

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Batemans Bay, NSW by Hejor1

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Batemans Bay, NSW by Hejor1

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Batemans Bay, NSW by Hejor1

Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird) at Batemans Bay, NSW by Hejor1

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Batemans Bay, NSW by Hejor1

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Freshwater Creek, VIC by WendyEM

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Higgins, ACT by AlisonMilton

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Higgins, ACT by AlisonMilton

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Wheeo, NSW by JaneR

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Conder, ACT by MichaelBedingfield

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Googong, NSW by WHall

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Conder, ACT by MichaelBedingfield

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Freshwater Creek, VIC by WendyEM

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Discussion

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

11 Jan 2025

An Epilachna larvae but not sure which one

Epilachna sumbana

AlisonMilton wrote:

9 Jan 2025

@LyndalT Yes I looked at leady beetles first but couldn't find a match, but there are some leaf beetles that are similar to lady beetles. Don't think it is Coccinella transversal.

Unidentified Lady beetle (Coccinellidae)

LyndalT wrote:

9 Jan 2025

Transverse? Coccinella transversal is?

Unidentified Lady beetle (Coccinellidae)

LyndalT wrote:

9 Jan 2025

Good question. I suggested lady beetle because of carapace colour pattern.

Unidentified Lady beetle (Coccinellidae)

AlisonMilton wrote:

9 Jan 2025

@KimberiRP Hi Kim, Is this a lady beetle or a leaf beetle? Can't find a match so unsure to which catergory to add it.