18/19 spot ladybird but not the Myrrha 18 - is it just a variation of the coccinella?

ripplingwave · #1 (**permalink**) 28-05-2009, 10:10 AM

Hey all,

Ive just been looking up a ladybird ive seen (not the first time) and it is identical to the coccinella ladybirds except it has 9 spots on each side and then one flanking the collar.
Ive just been trying to find it in books and on the internet with no luck so far.

Is it some kind of variant to the coccinella or the myrrha?

Thank you

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 28-05-2009, 10:15 AM

Do you have a photo? Spot number varies considerably within species.

ripplingwave · #3 (**permalink**) 28-05-2009, 10:56 AM

Unfortunately not, I was opening up the reserve and forgot my camera as usual!
Its colouring and markings are typical of a coccinella though, I thought it might be an eyed ladybird but it didn't have the eyes!

I counted the spots 3 times to make sure too!

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 28-05-2009, 11:27 AM

Can you describe the colour, the background colour and spot colour as well as the pronotum (thorax) colour. How big was it? Myrrha and Anatis look alot different, there is a form of Anatis without rings round the spots. Have you considered harlequin? 9 spots on each side is to much for Coccinella .