Gumtree Scale Ladybird

Description:

A small furry black beetle about 4mm long. The beetle in pic #1 was spotted first. It was soon joined by another (pic#2) beetle. I assume therefore that the former was female and latter, male. The female's elytra seemed slightly shorter than its body therefore not entirely covering the abdomen. Pic #4 shows another one of these ladybirds on the same tree, very close to a branch with the egg sacs of the female gumtree scale insect. The ladybird preys on the gumtree scale.

Habitat:

eucalytpus tree - Grey box (Eucalyptus microcarpa)

Notes:

For information on gumtree scale: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/138...