Description: This furry Lady-beetle with many (orange) pollen is a biological agent of Australian origin that feeds on Mealy-bugs (Genus Pseudococcus) and other scale insects; it features an interesting mimicry as the larva looks very similar to adult mealy-bugs, so instead of protection they become prey. have a look at its larva:
www.flickr.com/photos/gbohne/5551938125/ Somebody might have tried biological pest control near.. that gives me hope! Cryptolaemus montrouzieri MULSANT, 1850 (Mealy-bug Ladybird, Schmierlaus-Marienkäfer) Family: Coccinellidae (Lady beetles, Marienkäfer) Order: Coleoptera (beetles, Käfer) more info:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptolaemus_montrouzieri Indonesia, W-Java, Tangerang: vic. BSD, 50m asl., 22.11.2010 ___________________________________________________________________________ MP-65mm 2X; 1/160s, f16, ISO100, ring-flash, hand-held (IMG_7620). Date: 22 November 2010, 12:28. Source:
furry Lady beetle from W-Java. Author:
gbohne from Berlin, Germany.