Lady beetles (Coccinellidae)

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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 - 11 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

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Fyshwick, ACT - Today by MatthewFrawley

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Sawyers Gully, NSW - 29 Apr 2025 by LeeMears

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 3 Nov 2024 by MazzV

Coelophora inaequalis (Variable Ladybird beetle) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 13 Jan 2025 by MazzV

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 13 Jan 2025 by MazzV

Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird) at Copmanhurst, NSW - 21 Dec 2024 by MazzV

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Evatt, ACT - 28 Apr 2025 by Thurstan

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Melba, ACT - 24 Apr 2025 by kasiaaus

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 26 Apr 2025 by amiessmacro

Harmonia testudinaria (Tortoise-shelled ladybird) at Braidwood, NSW - 25 Apr 2025 by stellabellaxx

Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird) at Kangaroo Valley, NSW - 24 Apr 2025 by lbradley

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Ainslie, ACT - 20 Apr 2025 by jb2602

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Evatt, ACT - 21 Apr 2025 by Thurstan

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Mount Stuart, TAS - 13 Apr 2025 by VanessaC

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Wodonga, VIC - 19 Apr 2025 by KylieWaldon

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Curtin, ACT - 18 Apr 2025 by SMOT

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Narrabundah, ACT - 18 Apr 2025 by Mike

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Narrabundah, ACT - 18 Apr 2025 by Mike

Diomus notescens (Little two-spotted ladybird) at Freshwater Creek, VIC - 4 Jan 2025 by WendyEM

Unverified Lady beetle (Coccinellidae) at Melba, ACT - 11 Apr 2025 by kasiaaus

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Apr 2025 by LisaH

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Apr 2025 by LisaH

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Higgins, ACT - 13 Apr 2025 by AlisonMilton

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Higgins, ACT - 13 Apr 2025 by AlisonMilton

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Holder, ACT - 13 Apr 2025 by Miranda

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Middle Arm, NSW - 12 Apr 2025 by trevorpreston

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird) at Melba, ACT - 11 Apr 2025 by AlisonMilton

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Melba, ACT - 11 Apr 2025 by AlisonMilton

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug ladybird) at Parkes, ACT - 10 Apr 2025 by Hejor1

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Bargo, NSW - 30 Mar 2025 by Snows

Coccinellidae (family) (Unidentified lady beetle) at Canberra, ACT - 5 Apr 2025 by Hejor1

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Canberra, ACT - 5 Apr 2025 by Hejor1

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Emerald, VIC - 24 Mar 2025 by GlossyGal

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Cotter River, ACT - 14 Mar 2025 by RAllen

Illeis galbula (Fungus-eating Ladybird) at Sawyers Gully, NSW - 3 Apr 2025 by LeeMears

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Discussion

DiBickers wrote:

28 Apr 2025

Recently eclosed (emerged from pupal case). Still needs to harden and colour-up. Will be difficult to accurately ID with certainty☹️I suspect it could be Coelophora inaequalis looking at the pronotum.

Coccinellidae (family)

kasiaaus wrote:

27 Apr 2025

Hi @KimberiRP. Have you ever seen a ladybeetle with yellow hairs on its legs like this one? I was hoping you might have some idea about it.

Coccinellidae (family)

DiBickers wrote:

26 Apr 2025

Anytime @kasiaaus 💚

Coccinellidae CNM 01(family)

kasiaaus wrote:

26 Apr 2025

Thanks Di.