DESCRIPTION: Up to 4.5mm in length. This highly variable species is with several forms seen in the field. The ‘typical’ form is yellow, orange or red with black spots, the ‘chequered’ form is buff, beige or light brown and the 'melanic' form is purple, dark brown or black. Spots can range from 0 - 15 and take on a number of patterns with fusion of spotting quite common. The pronotum is white with 5 dark spots, which may be fused, or dark trapezium mark. The legs are brown. BEHAVIOUR: Both adults and larvae are a gardener's friend and feed on aphids. Like a lot of ladybird species they often hibernate in huge aggregations in sheds or under loose tree bark. DISTRIBUTION: Common throughout Britain become scarcer towards the North but never found in great numbers anywhere. HABITAT: Woodland, hedgerows and gardens and parks with trees. They can be found within wetlands, dune systems, scrub and grasslands. PERIOD: March to October. |
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