the story begins

May 25, 2017: within a week of delighting in the BG white larvae photos, I was looking closely at what appeared to be mildew on Virginia Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum. I saw more Twenty-Spotted Lady Beetles than I have I seen in my entire life. Looking at the under sides of the leaves I saw what looked like eggs. Collected 2 clusters plus, totaling about 15, looked closer, and yes, eggs.

At the time I was unaware that these lady beetles are associated with fungi.

May 29, 2017: thought it was debris but it was 3 red spots on the cluster of 5 eggs
May 30, 2017: at least 3 larvae emerged and other eggs have red eyes showing through, yippee, the larvae seemed to be pushing fungal spores about, perhaps eating them. Set larvae free on the mildewed plant
May 31, 2017: second batch of 5 eggs

emerging, set free

September 11, 2017, I've been seeing plants with mildew, different plants, different locations. Checking the under sides of the leaves, some have white coccinellid larvae. There are far more of these little lady beetles than I ever knew, right in my back yard.