A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Epilachna mexicana
Large Ladybug of the Family Coccinellidae, about 8 mm in length, black with large orange spots and legs. The elytra have a fine fuzz and are noticeably pubescent. The 4th picture shows the beetle feeding on the bottom side of a leaf and the last picture shows the damage to the leaf. Not all ladybugs are predators. This one certainly was not. Subfamily Epilachninae, Coccinellidae http://www.amazilia.net/images/Inverts/C...
Srubs close to the river, Ravine of the Corazon del Fortin, Fortin de Las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico.
The question of what ladybugs eat is more complex than just being predators. There are exceptions to almost every rule, for example, species of the subfamily Epilachninae can actually be considered vegetarian ladybugs. Some of them eat fungus, like mushrooms. There are some that like to dine on mildew. Still others prefer eating leaves and can even become pests of some plants.
Thank you Anne Marie for the identification. Looks like it is a plant pest in many areas of Mexico.
No creo que es Brachiacantha. Es demasiada pequeña y lisa sin pelo.
Mañana busco mas, pero no he encontrado nada similar todavía.
:) me encanto la foto de la hoja! Lauren, podria unirse a mi misión? para que nos comparta lo que ha encontrado aquí en la región de las altas montañas, por favor :) saludos! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1580...
Spotted on Feb 22, 2013
Submitted on Mar 13, 2013
