He says 10 years later...I am trying to separate a new larva I just submitted. most likely a Cycloneda polita!

-Cheers, from the future!

I am pretty sure this will be identified to species eventually. I have seen enough of these to know that they are one of the dominant species in this (San Francisco Bay) area.

Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens). See here.

This larva has only two large brown areas on the first thoracic segment; H. c*onvergens has several small ones.

...as it is when I click on reply to this comment. However, it can of course, be viewed by following the link in his second comment. This was one of the things that was throwing me. That my larva, and the first image linked to appear to have two large spots on what I think of as the first segment behind the head. In the other example it looks more like four dark objects that seem less like spots, more like triangles. I Think it may just be variations, and orientation of the camera, but this is very helpful if all will agree that this is a Convergent larva, which seems right to me.

Thanks for all of your comments, Ken, Ron M., and Ron H.!

he posted (here) and looking at the top right larva.

It looks like 'hotlinking' isn't allowed...

The URL for the image is:
http://www.ladybuglady.com/ladybuglarva1.JPG
but if I create a link using BB Code or HTML is generates a 403 because the hyperlink looks for an index page (.html) rather than an image (.jpg). However, if I paste the URL directly into the address bar it will load the page (which is just the image). After doing this and returning to this page the image will be visible at least until the cashe is cleared...

Odd

-EDIT-

It seems that the hyperlink now works (seen here)... I tried BB Code and HTML before pasting the url into the address bar and neither worked...

...I just thought it was interesting that I could see the image when I was replying to his comment, but not when I was viewing it (unless I followed the link, which took me to another page).

With your two links I had to follow the links whether viewing your comment or responding to it.

Here is the kicker: With Kevin's comment I can view the comment on the respond to his comment page but ONLY if I followed the link to view it on his comment. If not, then I would have to follow the link on the respond to his comment page.

I realize this is all a bit off topic, but it could be of importance to those of you who understand such things. BTW- I am using Firefox3.

Back to the bug: I'm still trying to figure out if mine is the same as the other. I would be glad to get it positively identified because there are only half a dozen or so common Ladybirds here, so it will make ID-ing the others easier.