weird orange bug/beetle/thing

[Vipera]

Hi, I found this critter on my raspberry plant, i took some photos for id, i ddint realise how ugly it was until i zoomed in on the photo! any ideas what it is?

[Jason Green]

Hi Vipera, welcome to WAB!

It's the pupa of a ladybird (the transformation stage between immature and adult). The spiky base suggests it's of the Harlequin ladyird, Harmonia axyridis - an invasive alien species new to the UK from 2004.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hi Vipera, welcome to WAB!

It's the pupa of a ladybird (the transformation stage between immature and adult). The spiky base suggests it's of the Harlequin ladyird, Harmonia axyridis - an invasive alien species new to the UK from 2004.

I would agree with Jason's ID here.

[Vipera]

Eek, I have aliens on my allotment! i wondered if it might be a pupae, pupa, whatever its called, but i knew it wasnt one of a normal ladybird as i have seen those, black things with yellow spots and they move around more than this did, infact i think it was dead, unless it was just getting ready to transform.
When i first saw it i did think it was a strange patterned ladybird, only when i took the photos and zoomed in i could see the spiky underside and the fact it had a segmented body, i mentioned to my freind that i found a weird bug that looked like a weird ladybird, and he suggested it might be a harlequin, but then i told him it wasnt actually a ladybird, well he was half right i guess!
Thank you for your quick replies
incidently, if i find any of these harlequin ladybirds, what should i do, i dont really like to kill things but if it helps to stop the spread of a pest, a alien pest at that, i will kill them.

[aeshna5]

I don't think killing them will have any impact on their spread. As an allotment holder they may be allies as they consume many pests, though they may not be so good for native species- though the jury is still out what their impact is/will be.