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Halmus chalybeus
Medium sized ladybird (4-5mm). Uniform dark metallic blue or green. The edge of the wing cases form a slight lip. Males of this species show two white spots on the side of the head. (As pictured)
Introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1899 and again in 1905 as a bio pest control of scale insects, namely the Black Scale insect and the Cottony Cushion Scale insect. Common over most of the North Island and northern South Island. Found in native bush, parks and gardens but especially near citrus trees.
Like many of the Ladybird clan, this species can exude a bitter yellow fluid from its leg joints that is distasteful to birds.
Spotted on Jun 1, 2015
Submitted on Jun 1, 2015
3 Comments
Thank you Polilla for your comment. Its quite hard to capture the depth of metallic colour in a photo but they are beautiful little bugs.
Thank you Debbi. Solid gold? Wow, the only golden insect I have seen is the Golden Ant featured a few months back on here. I gold ladybug would be amazing, keep that camera handy!
Once saw a solid gold ladybug in Wisconsin, I'll never forget it, I thought it was an earring