A bright, mild afternoon brings all the ladybirds out from their hibernation sites. I count over 30 7-spots stirring out from little crevices between leaves or sunbating on fences and trunks. An unusual looking ladybird calls my attention, it's smaller and less round than the 7 spots, with relatively large spots. I bring it to the white bowl to photograph. It is an Adonis ladybird (
Hippodamia variegata), an aphid eater that seems to have increased in frequency in recent years, but it is still not a common find.
Ladybird Identification
An ID guide of 23 species of British Ladybirds.
NBN records of Adonis ladybird.
2 comments:
I said on my blog I hadn't seen any insects today... what a total lie! I saw loads of 7 spots...! Not sure I've got Adonis - will have to look out for them.
Hi Jane,
It seems to be a wonderful start of the year for 7 spots. Today was the first day it felt like spring and I must have seen hundreds coming out and sunbathing everyhwere. I even saw the first one flying. I haven't seen a single Harlequin, though.
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