Section H
This group is for very rounded convex beetles, most found in a moth trap will belong to Coccinelidae, The ladybirds, but there are a few other surprises.
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In theory, all 47 of British ladybirds can be attracted to light, so keep an eye out for anything interesting.
For further reading, I recommend Roy & Brown's excellent Field guide to the ladybirds of Great Britain and Ireland which has identification notes on them all.
7 Spot Coccinella septempunctata
One of the larger species of ladybird found in the UK, It's also one of the most common
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ID Features
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5- 8 mm
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& spots
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Very little varability
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Black legs
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Can be separated from the rarer 'Scarce 7 spot ladybird'by the presence of 2 white triangular marks by the base of the second pair of legs
Eyed Ladybird Anatis ocellata
The UK's largest ladybird
ID Features
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7-8.5 mm
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Typically 15 spots usually with cream rings, however, spots may be missing in some variations
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Pronotum with Black'space invader looking' M shape
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Black legs
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Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
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ID Features
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4.5-6 mm
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Orange with typically 16 white spots
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Pronotum orange often with 4 yellow spots
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Orange legs
H. axyridis, variation succinea
Harlequin- Harmonia axyridis
One of the Large Common species in the UK, highly variable and often numerous.
ID Features
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5-8 mm
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yellow, orange, red, or black
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Spots vary significantly
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Pronotum white with up to 5 spots (may be fused), may also have an M-shaped mark (pictured) or a black trapezium shape in the center.
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Brown legs
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It is significantly larger than other variable species (similar size to the 7 spot)
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There are some good examples of different variations on Nature spot
18 Spot- Myrrha octodecimguttata
A Maroon ladybird with, typically, 18 cream coloured spots, this can be somewhat variable, but the moustache shaped marking at the base of elytra is a good indicator for this species.
It is a conifer specialist.
ID Features
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4-5 mm
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Maroon
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cream spots (there is also a checkered form)
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rounded pronotum with cream markings at edges
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Brown/ red legs
J. Gore
Cream Spot- Calvia quattuordecimguttata
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ID Features
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4-5mm
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Maroon/brown
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cream spots
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Pronotum with cream marks at the side edges
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Brown/red legs
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A Maroon ladybird with, typically, 14 cream coloured spots. This species. It is a deciduous tree specialist.
A. decempuntata, variation decempunctata. Credit P. Rule
10 Spot- Adalia decempunctata
Probably the most variable Ladybird in Britain, and has caught plenty of people out. It is much smaller than the equally as variable Harlequin ladybird, and has browl legs, which distinguishes it from another variable species, the 2 spot.
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I have yet to collate images of the common variations, but for now there is a good selection on Naturespot
ID Features
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3.5-4.5 mm
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May be Red,Orange or Yellow
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Spot patterns can be checkered, in addition to spotted
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0-15 spotsal though 10 is typical, these may be black, cream, orange or brown
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Pronotum White with 5 spots OR one large dark trapezium bordered by white.
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Legs brown
14 Spot- Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
One of my favourites with its distinctive yellow colour and rectangular spots
( that sometimes makes a smiley face).
ID Features
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3.5-4.5 mm
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Yellow with 14 square spots (sometimes fused)
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Pronotum cream with either black spots or a cloud shape (where spots have fused)
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Brown legs
Rhyzobius forestieri
A recent addition to the British list (2014) , An Australian species introduced into France & Italy for control of Olive Scale. a very small and easily overlooked species.
ID Features
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Approx 3.2 mm
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Entirely black and covered in pale hairs
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no spots
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legs brown
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There's a good overview HERE.
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Rhyzobius chrysomeloides
ID Features
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2.5-3.5 mm
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Paleto darkbrown
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Variable pattern, but usually a dark horseshoe shape which contains a lighters stripe each side
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no spots
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tan/dark brown
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Long antennae
A very small, yet common species of ladybird covered in a thin layer of downy hairs, it is VERY similar to R. litura. They are split HERE.
An Underside shot with the prosternum in focus is vital for others to reliably identify from R.litura with pictures, although it's possible to distinguish with well-marked individuals
Taking Photos
The odd ones out
These beetles are not ladybirds (Coccinelidae) and simply superficially resemble them, for ease of identification I have put them here.
S.French
Endomychus coccineus
ID Features
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approx 4- 6mm
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Always a deep red
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4 black, well defined spots on elytra
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black spot in centre of pronotum
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brown/black legs
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Long antennae
Aptly named the 'False ladybird beetle', this beetle is a fungivore from the family Endomychidae.
Diaperis boleti
ID Features
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7-8 mm mm
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Black head, pronotum, legs and elytra with 2 rows of orange zigzagged stripes
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antennal segments wider than long, gradually expanded
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A decent sized beetle from the very variable beetle family Tenebrionidae, usually found on birch polyphore fungus but are attracted to light
Chrysolina americana
Associated with rosemary plants
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ID Features
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Tricoloured metallic blue red and gold
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Clear rows of punctures on the elytra
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Rounded appearance
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Threadlike antennae
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6.7-8.1 mm
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May-June
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Looks similar to the much rarer Chrysolina cerealis, but this lacks the clear rows of punctures on the elytra​
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Chrysolina banksii
Associated with Black Horehound​
ID Features
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8-11mm
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Red head
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Rounded appearance
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red antennae and legs
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dented bronze/golden sheen to dark elyra and pronotum
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2 Clear ridges either side of pronotum
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Looks similar to Chrysolina staphylea, but this is more maroon in colour, lacks the metallic reflection, and is on average smaller (5-8.5 mm) and lacks the clear rows of punctures on the elytra.
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Chrysolina oricalcia
Associated with Cow parsley
ID Features
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7-9mm
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Entirely black with weak blue reflection
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Rounded appearance
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Shiny pronotum with clear ridges along the edges
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Pronotum broadest at base
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Clear rows of punctures, with a shorter line of punctures close to where the wingcases meet
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Common and widespread wherever there is cow parsley ​
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Paropsisterna semanli
Associated with Eucalyptus plants
A recent Tazmanian introduction from imported Eucalyptus plants
ID Features
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oval body shape
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Extremely variable, often metallic colouration
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Males tend to have reddish colouration
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extremely distinctive
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Often metallic
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7-9mm
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7-9mm oval Chrysomelid, Keep an eye out if you or neighbors have Eucalyptus planted. Colour is variable , males seem to be much redder in comparison
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