Beneficial insect - ladybird beetle

Ladybird Beetle

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

These Australian native ladybird beetles are very efficient predators of many species of mealybug and soft scale insects. Larvae can be easily mistaken for mealybugs. Ladybird larvae have waxy, more cotton-like fluffy filaments. Adult beetles are about 4 mm long with an orange head and black wing covers. Adult beetles lay their eggs inside mealybugs and their larvae feed on mealybug eggs and young ones.

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