Scarce Seven-spot Ladybird?

[GuyF]

Hi everyone,
I found quite a few of these ladybirds on heathland in Dorset a couple of days ago. I may well be wrong but the markings didn't seem quite right for the Seven-spot Ladybird so I was wondering whether they may be Scarce Seven-spot Ladybirds - Coccinella magnifica. There were plenty of Wood Ants nearby, which from reading around on the internet, Coccinella magnifica seems to be associated with.


I do have a few other shots if they'd be helpful,
Thanks for your help,
Guy

[Paul mabbott]

The critical difference is an underside feature but yes, the spots are the wrong size for ordinary 7-spot and there's a hint of a shoulder spot. If the others were variable (which C. septempunctata seldom is) then most likely C. magnifica. If the ladybirds were in amongst the wood ants then it's practically certain - the scarce 7-spot is hardly ever seen away from wood ant colonies and no other ladybird is seen near them!

[Pudding4brains]

Howdy,

In addition to Paul's remarks, also the front corner of the pronotum -to me- seems to be clearly more rounded that the more pointy regular 7-spot version

On my hard disk it would bravely (or thick headed?) land under Coc.mag., but I haven't been so lucky to find them yet

People from France told me that they occasionally find it away from ants, so it's probably not strictly bound to them but obviously has a great advantage over other species when it remains in their vicinity (?)

Cheers, Arp

[GuyF]

Thank you both very much for your help. I didn't see any ladybirds actually in or on ant nests but the gorse bushes where these ladybirds were seen were swarming with wood ants. I'm very pleased to have found them, if I manage to find any again I will get some shots of the underside to make absolutely certain.
Thanks again
Guy

[Wild-Woman]

Brilliant Guy. One I'm interested in finding. I look whenever I find a good colony of Wood Ants.
Mind you, wood ants found me last Sunday-I had stepped unwittingly into a nest concealed by nettles and soon had about fifty up my trouser leg!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Brilliant Guy. One I'm interested in finding. I look whenever I find a good colony of Wood Ants.
Mind you, wood ants found me last Sunday-I had stepped unwittingly into a nest concealed by nettles and soon had about fifty up my trouser leg!

They seem to be not uncommon in your neighbouring county of Surrey in certain sites with good Wood Ant colonies.

[Wild-Woman]

There's another little larva of some discription just below the ladybird, in your shot Guy. Looks ladybird'ish too.

[GuyF]

Thanks Julie,
That larva does look like a ladybird's, maybe an early instar of this species although it must be very tricky to id for certain. I've been working on finding some of the heathland specialities this year and these were on my list so I was very pleased to find a few, now I've got to try and get some better shots! I hope the wood-ant experience wasn't too painful for you, when they bite it can really hurt!
Guy

[Wild-Woman]

Is that gorse it's on?