Name that critter!

[BilliGoatsGruff]

Ok, so while I was outside fluffing in the garden I came across some creepy looking insects on my wattle tree. Anyone know what they are?

[andyc]

It would appear to be (thanks to google, I'm not an entomologist!)...

a deadly...




common spotted ladybird larva! I got a lucky first hit on an image search for "spiky black bug Australia". Must admit, I thought it might've been a bit meaner than that :lol:

[BilliGoatsGruff]

Haha I ended up googling "black insect two yellow stripes" and kept scrolling through the pictures until I found it. They certainly look a lot scarier than a ladybird!
I'm ashamed to admit that I was actually terrified to touch the tree in case one fell on me.

[eddiedunlop]

If you were an aphid you'd have reason to be terrified! Ladybird larvae are important predators in the insect world. But they are definitely no threat to a mammal.
From the images I could see on Google your critter may be a larva of the common species Coccinella repanda. There's a great deal in the scientific literature regarding the population dynamics, biological control and general ecology of this species.

[BilliGoatsGruff]

My wattle tree is infested with aphid, which would explain the larvae.

I often wonder what happened to the red and yellow ladybirds that I used to find as a kid. It seems only the orange ones are around now.

[tlgerdes]

I think you should call it George or maybe Georgette if you think it is female.:D

[BilliGoatsGruff]

Haha George has lots of siblings. I guess it would be fun to name them all and see who grows up first :)

[bugeater]

I think lacewing larvae are terrifying... if you are one of their prey.

To quote "They have small spines on their backs upon which they impale the remains of prey. This provides a form of camouflage and allows the larvae to appear inconspicuous amongst the prey."
Very metal.

They are a good one to have around the garden.

[eddiedunlop]

You're spot on there. Antlions look like something out of a 50's sci fi movie.
Their armoury goes beyond what evolution bestows on other animals that catch and kill stuff (cf. lions, crocs and sharks).

[pgc hunter]

That's a ladybug larva? I was going to guess it's another deadly Renmark insect I have to watch out for lol because flying bullants and huge Redbacks waiting for me in my power outlet are clearly not enough.

[BilliGoatsGruff]

That sounds absolutely terrifying! Very clever, but I'm glad they aren't big enough to so it do us.

Ok so I just realised what you're ralking about. Haha I love those little suckers! As a kid I used to pass time by catching little black ants and dropping them in the holes. One minutes they're running around like crazy, then POP, they're gone.



Giant centipedes hiding in the washing machine freak me out most. Or white-tail spiders that seem to pop out from nowhere. This time of year is the best for creepy crawlies :help:

[andyc]

Assuming it's still alive, it ought to be Paul or Ringo?

Or as it's a beetle offspring... Julian, Sean, Stella, Heather, Mary, James, Dhani, Zak, Jason or Lee? :P

[eddiedunlop]

I saw these Antlion pits today at work.

[bugeater]

The lacewing larvae I was talking about roam around on the leaves eating various nasty bugs. Antlions are another lacewing species I believe.

I seem to remember they were quite common in the sandy soil of Perth when I was a kid. Now I think about it, there were lots of sundews around too, so even the plants tried to eat you if you were a bug.