CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Spotless Lady Beetle (Cycloneda sanguinea) larvae NEWLY HATCHED

This species of ladybug is native to Florida.
Diet: aphids. The larval stage may be even more beneficial than as adults since the larvae have voracious appetites. If you wash your aphids off your ornamental plants, you remove the food source for the beneficial so they will go elsewhere to reproduce. Be patient.
Keep in mind that Not all ladybugs without spots are native. Harmonia is an introduced species which can outcompete our natives, especially the species in the photo. (source: https://esa.confex.com/esa/2001/techprogram/paper_1422.htm)
If you buy ladybugs, check what species you are introducing. Many sold commercially are non-native species.
Learn: http://susanleachsnyder.com/GopherTortoisePreserve/Insect%20Order%20Coleoptera.html#Spot
Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)
a.k.a. Blood-Red Ladybird Beetle
Photos of adult: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/spotless-lady-beetle-cycloneda-sanguinea-3/
My take: There are Different Types of Ladybugs? (includes side by side photos to tell the exotic from our native species)
http://web.archive.org/web/20150203103908/http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/there-are-different-types-of-ladybugs.html

Walking away to find the aphids on nearby branches
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