Lemmia biplagiata (a member of common ladybeetles)

Family Coccinellidae

Living in low altitude mountain areas, the Lemmia biplagiata (a member of common ladybeetles) has a wide eating preference, mainly feeding on nymphs of aphids, scale insects, and plant hoppers. The adult ladybeetle shows it appearance from March to October, during which time it can be seen all over the island. With a red body, a black head, a black pronotum with two white stripes on the front, and a small black shield, the ladybeetle’s major feature is an anchor-shaped black mark on the end of elytron with a big black spot on either front base joining together. Great differences exist. Some individuals have separate black spots, with inconspicuous red spots on the fronts. Besides the above-mentioned anchor-shaped type, there is also a double-striped type.

　　Photographed by Chen Hu-kun