Common name : Mealybug ladybird
Scientific name : Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Family : Coccinellidae
Native to : Australia
Interesting fact : This insect received its name because of its fondness for mealybugs as a food source.
Unlike other bugs of this family, the mealybug ladybird is brown and spotless in appearance. Once it hatches, the larvae feed on mealybugs. In fact, the larva mimics the appearance of the mealybug so as to gain an advantage over its prey. This insect is used as a biological control agent to help eliminate mealybugs and scale insects.
