In dual choice laboratory experiments with the predatory coccinellids, Adalia bipunctata and Coccinella septempunctata, objects of different colours sizes and shapes were used to test the optical orientation of the coccinellids. Adults of both species perceived colour contrasts and oriented preferably towards objects having the sharpest colour contrast against the background. Further, they preferred vertical objects over oblique ones and those with complex contour in preference to simple ones. A. bipunctata was attracted preferably towards taller objects, whereas C. Septempunctata could not differentiate between object sizes.