Ladybird species in the UK
There have been 3500 species of coccinellid described worldwide but until recently
only 43 were considered as resident in Britain.
The herbivorous Bryony ladybird, Epilachna argus, and the small inconspicuous
brown ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, are recent additions but neither
have attracted as much attention as the Harlequin ladybird, H. axyridis,
first encountered in 2004.
Of the 46 ladybird species now found in Britain only 26 are readily recognisable
as ladybirds and these are the focus of the Ladybird Survey.
A ladybird
identification sheet (163Kb) and a ladybird
larvae identification sheet (290Kb) are available in PDF format.
Thanks to Jeroen Mentens for supplying many excellent photos.
NOTES:
- Spot fusions = whether the spots appear joined or "fused" to
each other
- Melanic (black) form = a black colour form of the ladybird
- Pronotum = the surface of the section of the ladybird between the head
and the hard wing cases
- Habitat = where the ladybird is likely to be found
- Host plant = the plant on which the ladybird finds its food
- Overwintering = where the ladybird prefers to shelter for winter