In 2015 there were lots and lots of ladybugs in our garden. Most of these are non-native multi-colored Asian lady beetles, identifiable by an M or W pattern of spots on their heads.
Two-toned:
Orange:
Two spots:
Six spots:
No spots:
Lots of spots:
Big spots:
(This is starting to feel like a Dr. Seuss book.)
Ladybug with a deformed wing:
Aphids before ladybug arrival:
Aphids after ladybug arrival:
Ladybug eggs:
Just hatched:
Ladybug larva:
Grabbing aphids:
This year, I plan to participate in the Lost Ladybug Project to help document the species in Minnesota.
There were also other beetles, like the milkweed beetle:
Non-native pest, Japanese beetle:
Grapevine beetle – much bigger than any other beetles I saw:
Soldier beetle or Pennsylvania leatherwing:
And my favorite beetle sighting of 2015, locust borer:
