David Element's Wildlife Web Page Beetles 8

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______________________ Beetles 8 - Ladybirds 3

SEVEN-SPOT LADYBIRD Coccinella septempunctata

FOURTEEN-SPOT LADYBIRD Propylea quatuordecimpunctata

SIXTEEN-SPOT LADYBIRD Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata

TWENTY TWO-SPOT LADYBIRD Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata

ORANGE LADYBIRD Halyzia sedecimguttata

CREAM-SPOT LADYBIRD Calvia quatuordecimguttata

TWENTY FOUR-SPOT LADYBIRD Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata (LARVA, PAIRING ADULTS)

ADONIS LADYBIRD Hippodamia variegata

WATER, OR NINETEEN-SPOT LADYBIRD Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata (PINK FORM)

CREAM-STREAKED LADYBIRD Harmonia quadripunctata (FAINTLY SPOTTED)

The Orange and Twenty Two-spot Ladybirds are mildew feeders. The Orange Ladybird tends to withdraw its head underneath the transparent pronotum when at rest and therefore can presumably detect the approach of predators when in this position. Certainly the eyes are very visible from above. This insect is attracted to light at night and therefore must move about under the cover of darkness. The Twenty Four-spot Ladybird feeds on vegetable matter including grasses and this species has a strong association with False Oat-grass. The diet of the tiny Sixteen-spot Ladybird is poorly understood, but mildew and pollen are presumed to be constituents. Otherwise these species are generally aphidophagous. The Water, or Nineteen-spot Ladybird lives near to water and this species changes colour with the seasons and pre-hibernation adults tend to have a pink ground colour which will alter to orange in breeding post-hibernation adults. The Cream-streaked Ladybird is shown on a Stinging Nettle leaf not far from its recognised habitat of pine trees. This species is a relatively recent arrival to the UK with the first records dating back to 1939.