VC40Ladybirds 🐞

The recent warm sunny weather brought out the insects, and in Rainham Riverside I found a Larch Ladybird, the Lygaeid bug Oxycarenus modestus, dozens of Mottled Shieldbugs, and over ten 2-Spot Ladybirds. #Ladybirds #Lygaeidae #Shieldbugs

A chilly and dull mooch this pm in north Shropshire, finding Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird), R. chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird), Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird), and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) amongst others #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Orange Ladybirds hibernating in the shelter of an 'artichoke gall' induced by the gall midge Taxomyia taxi on Yew in the local cemetery this afternoon. #galls #Ladybird

The way I remember it is, we (normally) have 2 kidneys, so 2 red spots = Kidney-spot 😊

That's gorgeous!! 😍

クロジュウニホシテントウ
Plotina versicolor Lewis, 1896

アカガシQuercus acuta Thunb. の樹皮下にて。

Migratory ladybird, Harmonia axyridis on the 185 to Victoria.

Seven spot ladybirds emerging from hibernation in a small conifer in a sunny spot in the garden #ladybirds #WildWednesday #GardenInsects

A black ladybird with red spots on a white and brown Silver Birch trunk

I was out for a heathland walk with a school group earlier and after we’d spotted lots of 7-spot Ladybirds, one of the children saw this fab little Heather Ladybird 🐞 Top nature detectives!

#UKLadybirds #Ladybird
#DailyNature

🐞 Ladybirds don’t just brighten gardens. Their bold colours and gentle movements invite you to pause, look closer and reconnect with nature’s small wonders, boosting your mood. ☀️
Share your sightings to help our citizen science survey #SignsofSpring buff.ly/hEjHwYr

With @rsb.org.uk

Eyed Ladybird on a gravestone yesterday. Very dangerous at this time of year, ‘Beware the Eyeds of March’. 😂.

AI always gives ladybirds too many legs... 🙄

A Tachinid expert has confirmed that it looks like a phasiine egg, so most likely a case of 'wrong place at the wrong time'!

Red Marsh Ladybird: small narrow rufous coloured beetle with long antennae on a pale plastic background.

#LadybirdYearList Species #12: a Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa) swept from tall pond side vegetation at Cornmill Meadows in the Lee Valley today. Surprisingly I did not see this common species last year, so pleased to catch up with it early this year. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

In hindsight, I ought have collected the ladybird, but it's never my first instinct to do so! So, is it a Tachinid egg? Has the fly laid it on the wrong target? I tried carefully removing it, but it was stuck fast! #VC40Ladybirds

On Friday, I found this 24-spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella 24-punctata), with what looks like a Tachinid egg on it. I know Medina separata attacks the Coccinellidae, but they usually lay eggs under the elytra. This ladybird also has a white substance on the face (+ a baby springtail on the pronotum...)

Completely flunked the focus (as usual!), but was surprised to find paired Meadow Ladybirds (Rhyzobius litura) yesterday. I've found paired 7-spot and Pine Ladybirds early in the year, but this is a first for me!
#VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

First butterfly of the year @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social around with Adonis and Pine ladybirds today

7 spot ladybirds on holly.

🌼 A Search for Spring 🌱☀️
On the Trans Pennine Trail Wednesday – saw 2 Brimstone & Peacock butterfly, a Queen Buff tailed bee and plenty of 7 spot ladybirds all firsts for the year but NO hoverflies yet 😢....
#Pollinators #Nature #Springvibes #Butterflies #beetles #ladybirds #Bees

Really odd! Never seen one with dark spots!

Rather rough looking Eyed Ladybird, a red beetle with black spots each faintly ringed with yellow

Rear view of a hibernating Eyed Ladybird, a red beetle with black spots each faintly ringed with yellow, next to a smaller Orange Ladybird with white spots

Side view of a strange-looking Orange ladybird, with small black spots and faint paler markings

Dorsal view of a strange-looking Orange ladybird, with small black spots and faint paler markings

Short scan of gravestones at Cowpen cemetery in Blyth, #Northumberland today resulting in an addition to my #LadybirdYearList:

8. Eyed Ladybird

First time at this location for me. Also this odd-looking specimen. I guess it’s an aberrant Orange Ladybird, but never seen any as peculiar as this.

Yellow beetle with black spots on green background

Beautiful 22-spot Ladybird, Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata, looking so bright and pristine in the sun today.

A damp mooch this pm, finding Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird),Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird) and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

I'll see your 22-spot and raise you a 24-spot...also yesterday. 🙂

Little beauty! 😍

A bright yellow Ladybird with black spots. It is seen on a pale green leaf. The ladybird is facing the camera.

A beautiful 22-spot Ladybird seen in the garden yesterday.

#Coccinellidae

Try tapping the fallen reeds and vegetation too, around the Bulrushes.

Dead 7-spot Ladybird with white fungus growth lying on wooded board.

Found a dead 7-spot Ladybird whilst mending my shed roof today. White fungus growing out of the gaps between various body parts, most likely Beauveria bassiana. #EssexWildlife #UKFungi

Blimey!

All correct, except for bottom left, which is 24-spot. Very nice!