Scymnus sp?

[jeremiah]

Earlier this summer I posted some pictures of some ladybird larvae I spotted in a friend's hypericum shrub. I thought they looked like Cryptolaemus montrouzeri, which is used as a biological control for mealy bug.





However, a couple of weeks ago I spotted some adult beetles on the same bush (very small - 2-3 mm?). These have two red spots, whereas the Crypolaemus has a red head /shoulders and "tail". After some research (googling!) I think they might be a "Scymnus" species. Can anybody confirm this?

[The Woodman]

Scymnus interruptus possibly? or S. frontalis as a second guess.

[jeremiah]

Thank you. I must say it looks more like Scymnus interruptus because of the shape of the red spot.

Are they native? I'm surprised they aren't better known, because those larvae (sorry!) have a serious cuteness factor. They run around very busily and their fluffy coats wave in the wind....

[The Woodman]

I've never seen one but my interest and your question saw me looking in my new ladybird book - Ladybirds of Britain and Ireland - as promoted on WAB by our very own Paul Mabbot. There is a picture of the larva in it too as well as distribution record maps.

Native.