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Insect Gallery

Beetles and Weevils - Spotted

order Coleoptera

"Lady Bugs"

Ladybird Beetles - family Coccinellidae

There are actually several kinds. 

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) Harmonia axyridis

Lots of variation in pattern.  Red to orange.  Face can be mostly black to mostly white.  Lots of black dots to no dots.  Wing case hinge: centered black stripe varies from none to long, no white.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005

(Introduced from Asia)

Convergent Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) Hippodamia convergens

Longer wing case.  Wing case hinge has a centered narrow black stripe and narrow white bands.  Spots are larger at wing case tips.  Head is black, ringed in white with two white "eyes".  These bugs swarm in huge numbers when it is time to hibernate.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, August 2004

pupa - not sure from which species

Photo taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

Similar Species

Variegated Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) Hippodamia variegate

Less dots and none near head, largest center back.  Wing case hinge has a centered wide black dot and white.

"no common name" (Lady Bug) Cycloneda munda

No Spots.  Orangey-red.  "U-shaped white on face makes black "eyes".  Wing case has white edge at neck and sides.

Spotless Ladybird Beetle (Lady Bug) Cycloneda sanguinea

No Spots or very tiny.  Orangey-red.  "U-shaped white on face makes black "eyes" with white dot at top.

"no common name" (Lady Bug) Cycloneda polita

No Spots.  Red.  Long mouth parts.  "U-shaped white on face makes black "eyes".

On Frog Fruit leaf.

Leaf Beetles - family Chrysomelidae

Eight-spotted Flea Beetle Omophoita cyanipennis

This is not a "Lady Bug".

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2005

Leaf Beetles - familyChrysomelidae

Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica undecimpunctata

This looks like a "Green Lady Bug".  Adults eat plants.  They carry a bacteria that causes wilt in cucumbers and melons.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, November 2005

Larva name:  Southern Corn Rootworm

Larva are about 3/4" long, off white, wrinkly, six long brown legs.  They eat roots and stems.  Pupa are round-ish, about 1/4" long, off white.

On a Broadleaf Milkweed flower.

Longhorned Beetles - family Cerambycidae

Red Milkweed Beetle Tetraopes tetrophthalmus

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2005

Soldier Beetles - family Cantharidae

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus sp.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2005

Hunting Similar Species

Colorado Soldier Beetle (Lightning Bug) Chauliognathus basalis

Orange.  Black spots are fuzzy, on wing apex, wing hinge, thorax.

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (Leather-wing) Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus

Very similar but no black at top of wing cover

Margined Leatherwing Chauliognathus  marginatus

Wing case and thorax are black with yellow margin.  Or wing case is orange with black spots at apex only.  Red legs.

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus discus discus

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus discus texanus

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus lewisi lewisi

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus limbicollis

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus omissus

Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus scutellaris

Chauliognathus transversus

Chauliognathus werneri

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