Coccinella septempunctata

The Coccinellidae is perhaps the best-known family among our native beetles (Coleoptera), because it contains the brightly coloured ladybirds. There are nearly 100 species of ladybirds found in Europe and about 40 of these are resident in the British Isles.

The commonest species in most localities are the two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) and the larger seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), shown above. The largest of the native British species is the eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata), found in conifer forests and plantations. The black spots on the back of this species each have a distinct yellow boarder or halo, giving the appearance of 'eyes'. Hence its common name of eyed ladybird.

These, and many other ladybirds, are voracious predators, feeding in both larval and adult stages on aphids (greenfly), coccids (scale insects), mealybugs, whitefly and, occasionally, on other insect pests of garden and crop plants. Indeed, some predatory ladybirds, such as species of Cryptolaemus and Delphastus, are mass-reared on a commercial scale for use as biological control agents against mealybug and whitefly infestations in greenhouses.

Apart from these largely beneficial species, there are a few herbivorous ladybirds which feed exclusively on the leaves and shoots of plants. These all belong to a separate sub-family called Epilachninae and some members of this group found in Europe and North America can be very destructive to the foliage of potatoes, cucumbers and other crops.

The bright colouring of ladybirds - generally red or yellow with black spots - is thought to have a defensive function, by warning would be predators, like insectivorous birds, that the beetles are distasteful. When disturbed or handled most ladybirds discharge drops of a bitter, pungent fluid from leg joints and other parts of the body - a habit known as 'reflex-bleeding'. This fluid is usually yellow or amber-coloured and will stain unwary hands, tainting the skin with a long-lasting smell - so beware and don't touch!

Several ladybirds, including the common 2-spot ladybird, are remarkable for their wide range of colour patterning. But beetles of this same species often have several black spots or more elaborate black markings, and a fairly common form is black with four red spots. All very confusing when it comes to identification!


Info courtesy of Kendall Bioresearch Services.