CLOSED: What kind of Ladybird ?

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bonitin Gent, Belgium(Zone 8a) May 06, 2007

Found this ladybird on my Fritillaria meleagris this spring. I have tried to find its ID on the web and in my insect book but didn't find an exact match. Would like to ad it to the Bug files.

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) May 06, 2007

Not sure, but I think it's the Asian Ladybird Beetle - Harmonia axyridis. They're new to Europe, so it might not be in your book, and their patterns are variable. Did you notice the butterfly behind its head?!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) May 06, 2007

I circled the butterfly

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kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) May 06, 2007

bonitin,
I think this is probably one of the many variations of colouring of the Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): http://web.apu.ac.uk/appsci/lifesci/lifestaff/harlequin_01.htm
http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/11/29/late-autumn-insect-activity/
the markings on the head and thorax of your beetle match closely a number of examples of the Harlequin Beetle, such as this: http://entomology.unl.edu/images/beneficials/beetles/maladybtl.jpg

we have a page for this species here: http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/4139/
where we would be pleased to have your image added,

Ken

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) May 06, 2007

Ken, when I read "Harlequin Ladybird", I thought I had the wrong ID.... this beetle has a lot of names!

http://www.ladybird-survey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/H_axyridis.htm

Quoting:
The many-named ladybird! Multicoloured (multicolored), multivariate, southern, Japanese, Asian, Halloween, harlequin or pumpkin ladybird (ladybug, ladybeetle); la coccinelle asiatique, veelkeurig Aziatisch lieveheersbeestje, Asiatischer Marienkafer

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kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) May 06, 2007

yes almost as many names as it has different markings!

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bonitin Gent, Belgium(Zone 8a) May 07, 2007

You must be right Claypa and Kennedy.
I looked at all the links you gave, very interesting!
Now that I have seen the larveas, I remember noticing some in my garden that I thought were looking bigger and with more vivid colour contrast. It could have been a larvae from this Asiatic beetle. When it stops raining, I will try to find one and take a picture.
Still didn't find the exact match though, the patches of mine are like flowing into each other. But that must be due to its wide variation I suppose.
I have some more pictures of it if that could be helpful?
here is one where the underside is partially visible.
Not very sharp though.

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bonitin Gent, Belgium(Zone 8a) May 08, 2007

Took a picture of a larvae I think might belong to this beetle ? Is this correct ? It looks like it is in the stage of becoming a pupa

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) May 08, 2007

Yes, that's it:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/19003

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bonitin Gent, Belgium(Zone 8a) May 08, 2007

Thank you, Claypa!

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kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) May 08, 2007

Great picture of the ladybird larva, please add it to BugFiles

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