Halmus chalybeus explained

Halmus chalybeus, commonly known as the steelblue ladybird, is a species of ladybird (the beetle family Coccinellidae) native to Australia. It has a rounded appearance with an iridescent blue/green colouration and is a predator of other insects. It was introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1899 and 1905 to control black scale and blue gum scale (see scale insect) on citrus trees,^[1] where it is now common in northern regions. It has also been recorded eating San Jose scale. They are about 3–4 mm long.

See also

• Harmonia conformis, the large spotted ladybird
• Illeis galbula, the fungus-eating ladybird
• Two-spotted lady beetle

Further reading

• Flynn, Alan Richard. 1995. "Aspects of the biology of the steel blue ladybird Halmus chalybeus (Boisduval) (Coleoptera : Coccinellida)". Thesis (MSc–Zoology (Biological Sciences)) University of Auckland. 105 leaves with illustrations.
• Lo, P. L. (December 2000) Species and abundance of ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on citrus orchards in Northland, New Zealand, and a comparison of visual and manual methods of assessment. New Zealand Entomologist 23: 61–65

Notes and References

1. Book: Crowe, A. . 2002 . Which New Zealand Insect? . . 47 . 0-14-100636-6.