paul mabbott
Urban space man
I've just heard of harlequin ladybirds seen in Lincolnshire and more in Staffordshire - could appear anywhere now?
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
The Ladybird thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Andy Bright
- Start date
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Fungi
It's not just other ladybirds that our natives need to worry about - they suffer from parasitoids and diseases. One particular problem is infestation by fungi of the Laboulbienales group. This is slow-growing and doesn't immediately kill the ladybird so is most often seen early in the year. Very common on 2-spots (as the picture) in London. Is it seen much anywhere else?
It's not just other ladybirds that our natives need to worry about - they suffer from parasitoids and diseases. One particular problem is infestation by fungi of the Laboulbienales group. This is slow-growing and doesn't immediately kill the ladybird so is most often seen early in the year. Very common on 2-spots (as the picture) in London. Is it seen much anywhere else?
Attachments
Stuart Read
Well-known member
paul mabbott
Urban space man
There's a good chance - *if* it's Scymnus then it looks right although the antennae perhaps rather long? This isn't an easy one from a photo: there are other similar genera (e.g. Phalacrus). Some of the distinguishing features are on the underside of the body...... I'm also not sure whether it would be found in a wet habitat (unlike C. rufa) - it is found in long, dense grass so perhaps wet/dry isn't relevant?
Stuart Read said:
Stuart Read
Well-known member
Thanks Paul, i will give the specimen to the local beetle recorder for confirmation.
Stuart.
Stuart.
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Do let us know the conclusion! Most interesting ...
Stuart Read said:
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Immaculate herlequins
A lot of the current generation of Harmonia axyridis are poorly spotted or un-spotted - seems to be an early summer phenomenon.
This picture from the back also shows, not too well, a feature of the 'harlequin' that can distinguish it from British ladybirds - it has a 'keel' towards the end of its body - there are slightly raised ridges around a depression at the end of each elytron.
A lot of the current generation of Harmonia axyridis are poorly spotted or un-spotted - seems to be an early summer phenomenon.
This picture from the back also shows, not too well, a feature of the 'harlequin' that can distinguish it from British ladybirds - it has a 'keel' towards the end of its body - there are slightly raised ridges around a depression at the end of each elytron.
Attachments
hughredcanary
hugh
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Yes, the succinea form which is most common at the moment.
hughredcanary said:
hughredcanary
hugh
paul thanks for the replypaul mabbott said:
Yellow ladybird?
This morning I saw a yellow ladybird with white spots. My first thought was "harlequin" but I've looked at lots of pictures and haven't seen one similar. It was only the size of a common ladybird too. It's legs were pale yellow and the only thing that looked dark about it was it's eyes which appeared to be black. I went to look for something to capture it in for a closer look but of course when I returned it was gone!
Can anybody identify it please?
This morning I saw a yellow ladybird with white spots. My first thought was "harlequin" but I've looked at lots of pictures and haven't seen one similar. It was only the size of a common ladybird too. It's legs were pale yellow and the only thing that looked dark about it was it's eyes which appeared to be black. I went to look for something to capture it in for a closer look but of course when I returned it was gone!
Can anybody identify it please?
trealawboy
Well-known member
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Sorry, can't identify without a spot check! There are two (serious) possibilities: the cream-spot ladybird (Calvia quattuordecimguttata) and the orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata). Outside bets are the eighteen-spot ladybird and various exotics. The cream-spot is the most likely - this prefers trees but is not uncommonly seen on other plants.
However, I would describe both of these as having brown/orange background colours (paler when 'new') rather than yellow.
For future reference, the 'harlequin' ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) *never* has cream spots - they may be orange, almost yellow sometimes, but not white/cream.
Cheers, Paul
However, I would describe both of these as having brown/orange background colours (paler when 'new') rather than yellow.
For future reference, the 'harlequin' ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) *never* has cream spots - they may be orange, almost yellow sometimes, but not white/cream.
Cheers, Paul
roosmum said:
paul mabbott
Urban space man
16-spot ladybirds (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata) have black spots.
They are often very numerous but are only commonly found on semi-natural grassland in SE England.
They are often very numerous but are only commonly found on semi-natural grassland in SE England.
trealawboy said:
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Yes, you'd be right! Problem is, this is an immature - has recently emerged from the pupa. Most likely it's a 10-spot melanic but the critical diagnosis would be the underside/leg colouriing of the beetle *when* it had reached full colouration. But I'd give you 99-1 that it's Adalia decempunctata! The 'lunata' form of the A. bipunctata is quite rare.
138mph said:
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Most predators will take anything that moves if they can't find their preferred prey. Possibly, at the moment, there are not too many caterpillars about (been eaten by those birds!) so the bug is seeking something else. This week, studying ladybirds on a group of trees I've seen ladybirds attacked by spiders and anthocorid bugs, as well as (and most often) by other ladybirds; as well as being parasitised by wasps and flies. It's a jungle out there!
ladybirds.
ladybirds.
138mph said:
Brian Bullough
DIGIDOPE
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
I'm no expert, but I think it could be a 10 spot (Adalia decimpunctata...scientific name could even be wrong !). They are very variable, and similar in size to the also very variable 2 spot (Adalia bipunctata), but apparently have yellowish rather than black legs. Was it the size of a 2 spot ?
