Backyard Bugs . . . Squash Lady Beetle Larva

The Squash Lady Beetle Larva . . . when Dudeboy first saw it, he said it reminded him of Hallucigenia from the Burgess Shale.

While most lady beetles are beneficial, these guys (and the closely related Mexican Bean Beetle) are considered pests.

Side view.

The next day Dudeboy found the old skin from where the larva had molted.

Sometime in the near future, the life cycle of the lady beetle will enter the pupa stage.