Harlequin ladybird ab. "axyridis" in Europe!

[Pudding4brains]

Just for your information ...

This post in a German forum just alerted me to the (very rare) presence of the "axyridis" form/aberration of the Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) in Denmark. Apparently it had been recorded from Hamburg, Germany in 2002 before - which I had totally missed up to now

This probably adds "axyridis" to the "rare" forms to look out for in Britain - the (also very rare) occurrence of the "equicolor" aberration in the Netherlands makes it feasible that at some point it could be found in Britain too.

Cheers, Arp

[Dogghound]

A Document my Michael Majerus, Helen Roy, Peter Brown and Remy Ware that I have, states 4 forms in the UK with axyridis as one of them. With conspicua, spectabilis and succinea being the others.

[squishy]

such a shame about Majerus

i find the idea of a rare harlequin somewhat amusing though our 7 spots are going to be considered rare soon

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

A Document my Michael Majerus, Helen Roy, Peter Brown and Remy Ware that I have, states 4 forms in the UK with axyridis as one of them.

Darn - another paper I've missed

Any word on when/where and numbers?

Is the paper available for download somewhere?

Thanks for the pointer anyway

Cheers, Arp

[Dogghound]

Its not so much a paper but a small fold out field guide, its very basic but the people who wrote it are well respected in the field that I presume this form must be here. One of the FSC Guides.

[Pudding4brains]

Ahw, yes, thanks Dogghound I had even listed that on one of my scratchpad pages, but had never found a download for it ... figures

Majerus, Michael E.M.; Roy, Helen; Brown, Peter; Ware, Remy; Shields, Chris (2006) A Guide to the Ladybirds of the British Isles. Fold-out Chart OP102. Field Studies Council - Fold-outs (image)

Looks nice, shall try to get my hands on a copy ...

Cheers! Arp

[Dogghound]

Yes thats the one, although mines now all stuck in my head but great if your out and about and need to double check.

[tigger]

You might be interested in the following pic I took on Brownsea Island recently (actually taken in the bell tower of the church). These harlequin ladybirds don't seem to include the rare one above, but lots of different ones just the same hiding away for the winter!

[Dogghound]

It a good photo in the respect that it shows the other three forms conspicua, spectabilis and succinea.

[tigger]

Don't suppose you could tell me which ones are which? Thanks. Jane