help id ladybird

animartco · #1 (**permalink**) 14-07-2010, 10:04 PM

I found a ladybird in the garden today that was black with four orange spots on the body and two white ones on the head. Normal ladybird size and shape. What would it be please?

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 14-07-2010, 10:12 PM

Evening Ani,

Sounds like a form of Harlequin Ladybird; the elytral pattern sounds OK for the spectabilis form, and the two white spots on the 'head' will have been the fake eyes on the pronotum. Any photos?

Take care,

Jason

animartco · #3 (**permalink**) 15-07-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Evening Ani,

Sounds like a form of Harlequin Ladybird; the elytral pattern sounds OK for the spectabilis form, and the two white spots on the 'head' will have been the fake eyes on the pronotum. Any photos?

Take care,

Jason

Sorry Jason my camera's a bit xexexexe, but it crtsainly was 'spectabilis@ to look at I mean. Yes, fake eyes sounds right. The two spot at the top were larger tan th ones beneath, and I think it was a little bit bigger than most ladybirds, and a hiny jet black. Never seen one before, but then almost every day I come across an insect I don't remember seeing before, I don't know how you keep tabs on them all!