Spotted Amber Ladybird - Hippodamia variegata

FAMILY COCCINELLIDAE

This page contains information and pictures about Spotted Amber Ladybird Beetles that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia


Body length 4mm

This ladybird is also known as White Collared Ladybird. The ladybird has a black head with white patterns and a white patch stretching across the area at the top of the body i.e., the white collar. The ladybird has two large and a few small black spots on the back. We found this ladybird in different backyards in Brisbane a few times. This species is native to Europe and has spread around the world.



We found the ladybird in the above pictures on a milkweed plant. The first picture shows the insect just come out from its pupa. The colours on its wing-covers were not fully developed yet. The second picture shows the same ladybird a few hours later.



This ladybird is predacious to many species of aphid. It is also know to eat insect eggs and thrips

Reference:
1. New Ladybird in South Australia - South Australian Research and Development Institute 2001.
2. White collared ladybird - Identification and Information Guide, Australian Cotton CRC, 2004.
3. Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Their biology and classification - A.Ślipiński, Australian Biological Resources, 2007, p164.