Interesting post, Paul. You say the association with
F. rufa is due to abundance - are there other
known species that you will find it with? Also, would I be right in thinking that in cases where
C. magnifica is associated with other
Formica spp., that a nest in woodlands or suitable habitat would still be required to find the
Scarce?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRsbugs  Oh, by the way Jason, this is not London. I have more than one woods surrounding me, and plenty of Oaks etc lining the roads and more or less joining these woods. |
No need for the sarcasm or seeming derision of London - there are plenty of woodlands - let's keep this productive 
As Aeshna5 has said, we even have the
Adonis and
Bryony Ladybird!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRsbugs Oh, Charlie, Lincolnshire not the correct habitat for Formica ants? Heathlands I thought were suitable? Lincolnshire has plenty of those, and I believe it was heathlands where GuyF found his C. magnifica... |
As I've said before, the fact there isn't too much known of Lincoln's entomology from what you've told me, makes it sound quite interesting in the sort of discoveries you make, such as the rare
moth and
M. rufiventris, the
Tach. You may well find
Formica spp. on Heathland - good luck on searching, but potentially what this has to do with your ladybird I don't know - if if you find a Formica nest, this is more likely to be where you'd find
C. magnifica - and separate to your photographed individual.