These are Seven-spotted Lady Beetles feeding on aphids. If you look closely at the enlargements you can see the tiny aphids on the Dandelions in various places.
Observation Details
| County | – | Dallas |
|
| City | – | Garland | |
| Date | – | May 13, 2013 | |
| Time of Day | – | Morning | |
| Temperature | – | Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C) | |
| Weather | – | Partly Cloudy | |
| Habitat | – | Water-Lake | |
| Type of Behavior | – | Feeding | |
| Gender | – | Uncertain | |
| Maturity | – | Adult | |
| Observer | – | Chris Jackson | |
| Main Article | – | Seven-spotted Lady Beetle | Observation Location |
Nice find, Chris, and nice photos.
These insects are amazing predators, both adults and larvae. I had asparagus beetle larvae infest my asparagus one year. I garden organically. As I worked over the asparagus, carefully finding and squashing each larva, I found one branch of the asparagus that was nice and leafy, whereas most of it was defoliated by the beetle larvae. Careful examination revealed a ladybird beetle larva on that branch. I searched for more ladybird beetles and put them on the asparagus, but they were a pitiful few. So, I bought some from a supplier. However, by the time they arrived by mail, the asparagus beetle infestation had run its course. My asparagus yielded little the following spring, and I had to wait another year to get the yield I hoped for.