Mealybug Destroyer - Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
A native of Australia, the Mealybug Destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) is from the family of ladybug beetles that include the colorful Ladybug (Hippodamia convergens). The Mealybug Destroyer is predominantly brown however the larva looks very similar to the coloring of mealybugs which is their main food source. The similar appearance of predator to it's prey is known as aggressive mimicry where the predator is able to blend in and exploit it's main food source. Other less food sources include scale insects, insect eggs, aphids etc.
Mealybug Destroyer Larva (aggressive mimicry)
The large adult female Mealybug Destroyer lays her eggs in the cottony
egg-masses of mealybugs — usually one egg per mass,
10 eggs per day, for up to 50 days. The eggs hatch into white,
shaggy-coated larvae which look like mealybugs (aggressive mimicry). These larvae are fierce predators growing up
to 1/3" long and consuming 250 or so small mealybugs and their eggs.
Sources;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptolaemus_montrouzieri
http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/mbdest.html
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