The Ladybird thread (2 Viewers)

paul mabbott · May 20, 2007

Surreybirder said:
I found some ladybirds in my garden today (mostly on privet I think). I think they are harlequin, orange and ? seven-spot but if any of you experts could confirm or correct, I'd be grateful.
Ken

I think your listing was back to front as they appear on our messages ... I would say (as I see them!) cream-spot ladybird (Calvia quattuordecimpunctata), pine ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus) and, yes, 'harlequin' ladybird (Harmonia axyridis).

I wouldn't like to be too dogmatic about the first one although I only see fourteen patches (Halyzia sedecimguttata has sixteen spots, rarely ten or twelve ...).... but it's possible to imagine some yellow on the forebody (pronotum) which is typical of the orange ladybird. Do you have an alternative view of the pronotum?

Surreybirder · May 20, 2007

paul mabbott said:
I think your listing was back to front as they appear on our messages ... I would say (as I see them!) cream-spot ladybird (Calvia quattuordecimpunctata, pine ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus and, yes, 'harlequin' ladybird (Harmonia axyridis.

I wouldn't like to be too dogmatic about the first one although I only see fourteen patches (Halyzia sedecimguttata has sixteen spots, rarely ten or twelve ...).... but it's possible to imagine some yellow on the forebody (pronotum) which is typical of the orange ladybird. Do you have an alternative view of the pronotum?

thanks, Paul, I'm really not into ladybirds but I like to know what things are.
I think this the same one...

paul mabbott · May 20, 2007

Surreybirder said:
thanks, Paul, I'm really not into ladybirds but I like to know what things are.
I think this the same one...

Quite right too! This is the cream-spot ladybird, Calvia quattuordecimpunctata - fourteen spots and no yellow on the forebody. A nice little arboreal species ...

That should be quattuordecimguttata not ... punctata - sorry .... had a hard weekend ....

Surreybirder · May 20, 2007

thanks, Paul, it's interesting to realise that there is such a diversity of LBs in the garden... I'm sure there are others, too.
Ken

Andrew · May 20, 2007

Water Ladybird I presume?

I would like to seek clarification from any experts out there that this is a Water Ladybird.

It was on the reed lined towpath of the Grand Western Canal in Devon and it was a very tiny specimen compared to the commoner black and red Ladybirds we all know and love.

Much appreciated,
Andrew.

paul mabbott · May 20, 2007

Yes, Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata - has a somewhat elongated body. The colour changes overwinter from scarlet to ochre ... allegedly - seems not to be consistent nowadays.

Andrew said:
I would like to seek clarification from any experts out there that this is a Water Ladybird.

It was on the reed lined towpath of the Grand Western Canal in Devon and it was a very tiny specimen compared to the commoner black and red Ladybirds we all know and love.

Much appreciated,
Andrew.

Andrew · May 20, 2007

Thanks Paul, I think it was something of your's on the net that I Googled to get the ID. A PDF file with pictures and descriptions on it. Good source of info.

Surreybirder · May 22, 2007

two more for ID from our garden, please.
TIA
Ken

Stuart Read · May 22, 2007

Hi Ken

They are the 2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata & the 16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis 16-punctata.

Stuart

Surreybirder · May 22, 2007

Thanks, Stuart.

Stuart Read · May 23, 2007

Probable Harlequin & unexpected garden visitor

I found this ladybird along the local riverside walk yesterday (1st two pictures), I believe it to be a Harlequin although its not a colour form I have seen before & was smaller than normal at about 5-6mm long (do you agree Paul?).
While taking those photos a slightly smaller ladybird flew around the garden & landed next to where i was snapping away, I was very surprised to find it was a Cream-streaked Ladybird (last two pictures).

paul mabbott · May 24, 2007

Yes, there are some surprisingly small 'harlequins' about this year. These almost spotless patterns are quite common in spring - the more heavily spotted ones appearing later in the year. It's most likely Harmonia axyridis (might, I suppose, be a 10-spot) because, on the first picture you get a hint a the 'keel'. This is a diagnostic feature of 'harlequins' but, unfortunately doesn't show very well on photos! There are slight depressions at the rear of the elytra which leave a ridge across the end of the body - Maybe you can make it out here - http://www.biokids.umich.edu/files/12347/mulsantina_picta_medium.jpg - or here -
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/images/g07369art01.jpg

I've got a good picture which I'll try and find .....

Stuart Read said:
I found this ladybird along the local riverside walk yesterday (1st two pictures), I believe it to be a Harlequin although its not a colour form I have seen before & was smaller than normal at about 5-6mm long (do you agree Paul?).
While taking those photos a slightly smaller ladybird flew around the garden & landed next to where i was snapping away, I was very surprised to find it was a Cream-streaked Ladybird (last two pictures).

Stuart Read · May 25, 2007

paul mabbott said:
Yes, there are some surprisingly small 'harlequins' about this year. These almost spotless patterns are quite common in spring - the more heavily spotted ones appearing later in the year. It's most likely Harmonia axyridis (might, I suppose, be a 10-spot) because, on the first picture you get a hint a the 'keel'. This is a diagnostic feature of 'harlequins' but, unfortunately doesn't show very well on photos! There are slight depressions at the rear of the elytra which leave a ridge across the end of the body - Maybe you can make it out here - http://www.biokids.umich.edu/files/12347/mulsantina_picta_medium.jpg - or here -
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/images/g07369art01.jpg

I've got a good picture which I'll try and find .....

Thanks Paul.
It was too big for 10-spot & by a process of elimination it left just Harlequin.
However it does have a 'keel' & also the slight depressions at the rear of the elytra so therefore is definately a Harlequin.

Stuart.

Surreybirder · Jun 2, 2007

I hope I'm not in the wrong thread. I found this larva on our raspberries and assumed it was a ladybird. Am I right?
Ken

Mis · Jun 2, 2007

I would say that is the larva of the harlequin ladybird.

Surreybirder · Jun 2, 2007

Thanks, Mis. They seem to be very common round my area now.
Ken

paul mabbott · Jun 6, 2007

Surreybirder said:
Thanks, Mis. They seem to be very common round my area now.
Ken

Yes, they are spreading out from London. There's a distribution map at http://www.harlequin-survey.org/# (which is a couple of months out of date!) and also a page to record observations ....

Mis · Jun 6, 2007

I'm finding harlequins (larvae and adults) in more parts of my patch this year.

I found a mating pair of pine ladybirds on dock this afternoon. Dock doesn't seem to be a usual host for them. Roger Hawkins mentions in Ladybirds of Surrey that they turn up occasionally on gorse. Perhaps these were overcome with passion and just didn't care where they were!

Saphire · Jun 6, 2007

My first 14 spot ladybird.

paul mabbott · Jun 6, 2007

Saphire said:
My first 14 spot ladybird.

And very clear pictures - this is quite an unusual individual since some of the 'spots' are not joined up!

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