#C. undecimpunctata

[identifying-ladybugs-in-posts]

Coccinella undecimpunctata

Eleven-spotted ladybird beetle

David Carey, How It Works - Printing Processes (Ladybird Books, 1971).

[crevicedwelling]

question about beetles: a ladybug, probably c. undecimpunctata, was stuck in my house, so i worked to release it. it was in a bit of an odd position so it was a bit of a struggle, and i got some kind of yellow-orange fluid on my hands from it. my question is, was that some kind of excrement or defense mechanism? i'm hoping i didn't hurt it, but it seemed healthy and flew well enough. sorry cause i know coleos not necessarily ur specialty but i kept finding contradicting answers abt beetles and waste excretion online

ladybugs often “reflex bleed” as a defense mechanism, squirting their alkaloid-loaded blood from their joints which is toxic and distasteful to predators. I imagine that the loss of blood/toxins is only slightly costly to the beetles, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it

[identifying-ladybugs-in-posts]

Coccinella undecimpunctata

Eleven-spotted ladybird beetle