Calling Mr Mabbott ...

[jezlee]

Another Ladybird for you .... as I'm at work with no references to hand - perhaps you could do the honours?

[Imaginos]

16 spot, the fused spots along the sides are the best diagnostic features

I know I'm not Paul, but I'm sure he/you won't mind

[Paul mabbott]

Quite right.
This is much smaller than the other two British yellow species (22- and 14-spots) and not as yellow. It's quite a mysterious ladybird - not quite sure of what it feeds on and it behaves oddly in the autumn. If you see one you're likely to see thousands. Most of the year they hide around in grass tussocks or hedgerows but in the autumn huge numbers (over a million estimated at one place) will gather on trees, fences and the like - usually on north faces so they're not sunbathing - and then disappear after a day or two. The same can happen in spring although not usually in such large numbers and this does tend to be on southerly exposures: just warming up like most other beetles at that time of year.

Originally Posted by Imaginos

16 spot, the fused spots along the sides are the best diagnostic features
I know I'm not Paul, but I'm sure he/you won't mind

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

16 spot, the fused spots along the sides are the best diagnostic features

I know I'm not Paul, but I'm sure he/you won't mind

Hi Imaginos .... I think he left ....

Edit: He came back ....

Thanks for the ID though, I don't care where my expert advice comes from!

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Quite right.
This is much smaller than the other two British yellow species (22- and 14-spots) and not as yellow. It's quite a mysterious ladybird - not quite sure of what it feeds on and it behaves oddly in the autumn. If you see one you're likely to see thousands. Most of the year they hide around in grass tussocks or hedgerows but in the autumn huge numbers (over a million estimated at one place) will gather on trees, fences and the like - usually on north faces so they're not sunbathing - and then disappear after a day or two. The same can happen in spring although not usually in such large numbers and this does tend to be on southerly exposures: just warming up like most other beetles at that time of year.

Thanks, Paul!! A mine of information, as usual! Who needs a reference book when I have you here ....

Incidentally .... how did they arrive at the number of spots in their names? Apart from the seven spot and maybe the common red two-spot, I always seem to find different numbers of spots on them than their name suggests .... and when you're counting, do you count just what's on their eleytra, or any on their heads as well?

[Paul mabbott]

But I'm off again shortly ---- seeing what insects are about in the Great Wen ----- have fun while I'm away.

Originally Posted by jezlee

Hi Imaginos .... I think he left ....
Edit: He came back ....
Thanks for the ID though, I don't care where my expert advice comes from!

[Turtletagger]

It certainly is a 16-Spot Ladybird and I found that out by having a look at Pauls web site. I fully recomend everyone to join that site , pictures like this one would be welcomed