24 spot ladybird for ID confirmation please

[Geoff F]

This one was from 21/04/11. South Devon. Narrow blackthorn lined path through scrub beside the sea.



I'm thinking 24 spot - Subcoccinella 24-punctata but I'm never totally sure with ladybirds so I would appreciate a second opinion.

And if I may tag on another from yesterday; also South Devon.



I am thinking Harlequin - Harmonia axyridis but not one of the 'classic' common colour forms.

Any help appreciated.

[nutmeg]

Yes that's a 24-spot. Pretty little thing.

The other looks like a Harlequin, as you suggest.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the confirmation. I have a small ladybird section in one book and the FSC leaflet but I'm never totally sure about the less common species.

[Klaas Reißmann]

#1 yes
#2 In my mind Adalia bipunctata

Regards
Klaas

P.S.: I guess Christoph Benisch would be glad to have the picture for his variation pages of Coccinellidae. Have a look at:

Variability of elytral color patterns in ladybirds (Coccinellidae) - kerbtier.de

[Paul mabbott]

The 24-spot, Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata, has variable number of spots (but, usually, a lot of them!). More defining features are the red pronotum (forebody) with no white patches and the reddish legs. The surface is notably dull because it is covered in lots of smll hairs.
S. 24-punctata is one of our few vegetarian ladybiirds. Another relative is the bryony ladybird, Epilachna argus, which has seven spots and is slightly larger - it feeds on cucurbits, especially white bryony.

The other specmen is, indeed, Harmonia axyridis, the four-spotted melanic version - as you note, not the usual form but common enough.
The definitive features here are the pale legs and the white pronotal rim. I'd hazard a guess that this was longer than 5mm?

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the confirmation, Paul.

I had revisited my photos this morning and did note the paler legs/antennae. And the 'club' on the antennae was relatively distinct, about 3 times as long as wide.

So that had more or less convinced me that my initial thoughts were correct, although I still prefer to believe you than my own tentative identification.

But previously, I hadn't really seriously considered Adalia as an alternative. Now I see that with all those colour variations I will need to be careful in the future.

I will send in the records later.