Many Variations of the Two-spotted Lady Beetle

Two-Spotted Beetle (Adalia bipunctata, Liege, Belgium)

Adalia bipunctata (family Coccinellidae), the two-spotted ladybird or two-spotted lady beetle, is a carnivorous beetle common in western and central Europe and North America. The most familiar form of the two-spot ladybird beetle is red with two black spots, however individual spot number can vary significantly, and in fact there is a black form (shown above) with red spots.

These beetles feed on aphids and other small insects. They were introduced into Australia  specifically as a biological control agent.

Source: Insectes de France. Michael Chinery http://www.amazon.fr/Insectes-dEurope-occidentale-Michael-Chinery/dp/2082013758/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276609225&sr=8-1