Un-identified bug

I have found a number of pale orange bugs about 4mm long with 6 black spots at the head end and 2 black spots at the rear. It doesn't appear to have legs and is attached to the leaves of carrots and parsnips. It can't be pulled off the leaf withour squashing and is carrot coloured inside when squashed. I have photos of it to e-mail anyone who can help to identify this bug.

Regards
Tony
htpp://brassicabill.blogspot.com

 

Hi Big T - Could you send me a pic? (email is in my profile) Thanks

 

Hi, Big T has sent me some photos of the mystery bug (Posted below). I think its some kind of beetle Larva - Has anyone any more definite ideas?

 

The only orange grub I was ever told to look out for was the Colorado..does look similar :eek:
Can't be that...can it :confused:

 

I thought that it sounded like Colorado beetle larva but there are very many beetles in Britain and their larva can look very similar. Before panic - check this out BigT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_potato_beetle.
Colorado beetles are pests of potatoes so are unlikely to munch your carrots.

 

Very clear picture of colorado larva here:
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/COLEOP2b.gif
Are they still notifiable?

 

Thankyou all for your input; the little bug has grown up to be a ladybird. I'd never seen a ladybird in its pupae stage until now. It was a very lucky ladybird pupae as I had collected it in a polythene bag which I had left in the study until my wife tidied up. Jan rescued it (in the bag) from the dustbin this morning and there it was with legs, wings still drying, but looking non the worst for being trashed. You'll be please to know that it has a new home seeking out nasty pests in our garden. Thanks once again to all that replied. Best wishes BigT

 

Glad it all turned out OK.

Just for the record DEFRA: Colorado Beetle

"The Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is not established in the UK and is a notifiable quarantine pest, whose introduction is prohibited under the EC Single Market "