1. Several species of ladybird beetles are predators of a number of sorghum insect pests. As a group, adults are semi- or hemispherical insects (Fig.). Depending on species, they are orange, red, tan, gray, or black, and spotted or marked with contrasting colors of red, yellow, black, or white. Adult Ladybird Beetles Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Ladybird Beetles Module VI: Predators and Parasites Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum

2. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Ladybird Beetles Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum Module VI: Predators and Parasites Ladybird Beetle They are small, varying in length from 1.5 to 6.0 mm (Fig.). Ladybird beetles are some times confused with certain leaf beetles.

3. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Ladybird Beetles Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum Module VI: Predators and Parasites Females lay 200-500 yellow eggs in clusters (Left Fig.). The larvae are elongate, tapering posterior (Right Fig.). Their general color is dark with bright markings and the bodies are covered with spines. Ladybird Beetle Eggs Ladybird Beetle Larva

4. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Ladybird Beetles Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum Module VI: Predators and Parasites Both adults and larvae are beneficial. They are predacious on aphids, scale insects, spider mites, eggs of a number of insects, and small larvae of many pests. Ladybird Beetle feeding on aphids

5. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Ladybird Beetles Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum Module VI: Predators and Parasites Since ladybird beetles reproduce rapidly, and are voracious feeders, they are among the most beneficial of all predators. Larvae have been observed to devour 11-25 aphids daily, and adults 16-56 aphids in a day.

6. The Lesson 1 on Ladybird Beetles concludes. The Lesson 2 is about Syrphid Fly. Select Lesson 2 from Module VI contents Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Module VI: Predators and Parasites Course on Insect Pests of Sorghum