Ladybird ID Required

[jdoherty]

I took this ladybird photo at Moore Nature Reserve, Near Warrington in July 2007. I hope someone can provide an ID.

Thanks, John.

[Paul mabbott]

Adalia decempunctata, the 10-spot ladybird famous for having anything but ten spots! The 'spotty' pattern on the forebody is distinctive for non-melanic specimens.

[jdoherty]

Many thanks Paul for the Id.

John

[tashunkawitco]

Hello everyone long time no speak yes ive been pretty busy for the past 10 months on the site where i work as a voluteer ranger, covering for the Ranger while he's been off sick with a leg injury, what with the day to day running and fencing off a new path across the site anyway he's back for a while now so ican relax a little bit.
Anyway to the matter in hand i think in fact im almost sure the ladybird in the photo is a harlequin in one of its many guises, we have them on site in many different variations, the one thing that does appear to be the same on most of them is the black "M" mark above the eye's for a positive id you could email these people <harlequin-survey@ceh.ac.uk> i was just about to add a photo of one then realised i could'nt anyway speak to you all soon.

[tashunkawitco]

Hello me again well i will eat my words seems like paul got the id spot on as i've as i have just seen a picture of a ten spot that looks almost identical well done indeed .

[Dogghound]

Yes 10 spots can look similar, although if you look at the protonum its got a different pattern. These 5 dark spots on the white back ground although even these can be fused sometime's but its a genuine difference. Unless its melanic(which is still different to the harlequin). Also similar to the harlequin the ten spot is very variable and come's in a whole host of different colours. Alot have more or less than 10 spot's as paul say's. The harlequin is also a few mm bigger on average than the 10 spot.

[jdoherty]

Thanks everyone for all your interesting facts and comments.

John