Fat Harleqin Ladybird

[Bruce Williams]

Totally agree about the "obvious jizz" although (ignoring ecological considerations) they never cease to impress me with their boldness and variation in colour and markings.

Thanks for the compliment Elaine .

Bruce

[Paul mabbott]

Agreed. The roundness of the hindbody is as good a clue as any. The posterior keel isn't always too apparent. This pattern (Succinea with reduced spots) is more common in the early part of the year - perhaps they think it's Spring!
The forebody markings are not what we are told to expect but the black markings there become reduced in correlation with the loss of elytra markings. I see the similarity with cream-streaked but it might equally be mistaken for a (very large) 10-spot!