Friend or Foe?

mrs fish · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 05:54 PM

I hope they are friendly ladybirds mutiplying and not enemies.
Could someone ID them please

GuyF · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 05:59 PM

I think those are the native 7-spot ladybirds, so they are fine to have in the garden, I've not seen any this year, perhaps the harlequins have chased them off

Guy

mrs fish · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 06:02 PM

Thanks

Deer Stalker · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 06:09 PM

Yep, 7 spots.

mrs fish · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 06:10 PM

I think I am harlequin paranoid

wildlifesnapper · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 06:24 PM

They look as though they are being very friendly

neil

Paul mabbott · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 07:41 PM

Yes, 7-spots, Coccinella septempunctata. I do wish we could get a ladybird sticky so that all these queries, replies and pictures didn't get scattered all over the forum .... ho hum
I've seen quite a lot of 7-spots this year but it's only over the last week, in London and the Midlands, that they have become active and (as with yours) mating .... Can't say that I blame them, there have been some chill winds ....

aeshna5 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 08:12 PM

I was lucky to see 4 Scarce 7-spot Ladybirds today in a huge colony of Wood Ants (with which they co-exist) at Frensham Common today.

With some beating we also found several Pine, a Cream-streaked, my first Striped + a 7-spot Ladybirds.

Also surprised to see a Green Tiger Beetle on a sandy track- not because of the location- it's ideal habitat- but the early date, Chinery gives May-July.

Paul mabbott · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 10:54 PM

I think that all dates, Chinery or other, are now amended. I see Cicindela sp upland in Yorkshire in April so down in the sunny South, what might you expect.
With most beetles, and many other insects, sunshine is almost as important as ambient temperature. They absorb solar radiation, become active during the daytime and, if lucky, will find shelter during the cooler nights.
Hope you're recording all these observations

Cheers, Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I was lucky to see 4 Scarce 7-spot Ladybirds today in a huge colony of Wood Ants (with which they co-exist) at Frensham Common today.

With some beating we also found several Pine, a Cream-streaked, my first Striped + a 7-spot Ladybirds.

Also surprised to see a Green Tiger Beetle on a sandy track- not because of the location- it's ideal habitat- but the early date, Chinery gives May-July.