NEN Gallery

This ladybird is very common across Britain. Its elytra are of a red colour, but punctuated with three black spots each, with one further spot being spread over the junction of the two, making a total of seven spots. Ladybirds are perhaps the most well-known of all British beetles. Both the Adult ladybird and the larvae eat aphids. An adult seven-spot ladybird may reach a body length of 7.6–10.0 mm (0.3–0.4 in). Their distinctive spots and attractive colours are meant to make them unappealing to predators. The larvae are greyish with yellow/orange spots and the pupa and orange colour with black spots. They can be found in a wide range of habitats. Adults overwinter, either singly or in small groups, sometimes along with other species, under bark or among moss and grass. The species can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste. Picture taken 15th July 2011 at Bronham Nature Reserve, Bedfordshire .