The Ladybird thread (1 Viewer)

[pdwinter]

Unlike with birds, dragonflies, or butterflies where you might just pick one up by sight when flying around a roughly described location, it's possible to lose a ladybird completely before you've had an identifiable view, even when you know where you've dropped it! 😂

I find that with Dragonflies -- particularly damselflies in grassland on a windy day

 

[Larry Sweetland]

It's taken me until now to get 2-spot for the year, with these two in the garden. That's 25 species for the year now (23 on patch). They used to be one of the commonest species when I was a kid.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Forestier's Rhyzobius found in buddleia in the garden (Bristol BS5) today

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Four-spotted Nephus found today on the ivy-covered trunk in Bristol BS5 pictured here. It's been a reliable spot for them since I first discovered them there 2 years ago.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Another couple of micros from the last couple of days: a Red-flanked Scymnus from buddleia in the garden, and (much more excitingly) an Angle-spotted Scymnus from a local brownfield site.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Dot Ladybird found in a sallow in Bristol today. My first of the year.

 

[Euan Buchan]

My second ladybird I’ve seen this year a Harlequin.

 

[Surreybirder]

It seems to have been a poor year so far for ladybirds locally. Red-headed Rhyzobius seem to have died out; and I've failed to find a Pine Ladybird despite quite a bit of searching.
On the plus sign, I've found a good site for Nephus quadrimaculatus and I found my first Oak Scymnus (Scymnus auritus).
Yesterday I found my first two dot ladybirds (Stethorus pusillus) of the year, exactly where I found the S auritus. Rhyzobius chrysomeloides continues to be my most common find. I've now found 20 species in my 1 km square.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Saw this Ladybird on my doorstep third one this year.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Just seen my first Ladybird of 2025.

 

[flossiepip]

Might be an 11 spotted Ladybird? New Zealand

 

[Steve Babbs]

One ladybird so far this year: pine.

I checked my local cemetery and got a big zero. Tbh this wasn't a surprise as I've usually failed to find any there despite the fact that it looks idea: it's very large, has lots of old grave stones and plenty of vegetation. All very odd as I'm constantly seeing FB posts of people having hundreds in their cemeteries. No ladybird records on iNat for it either.

 

[WalterRayle]

One ladybird so far this year: pine.

I checked my local cemetery and got a big zero. Tbh this wasn't a surprise as I've usually failed to find any there despite the fact that it looks idea: it's very large, has lots of old grave stones and plenty of vegetation. All very odd as I'm constantly seeing FB posts of people having hundreds in their cemeteries. No ladybird records on iNat for it either.

I'm still getting Harlequins crawling up my windows most days since the turn of the year, even had one today (22/02).

 

[aeshna5]

Have only seen a single 7-spot a couple of days ago, basking in some low Cow Parsley near Crossness, London.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

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Intriguing find in this Facebook post

 

[cafe birder]

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Intriguing find in this Facebook post

You seem to need to join the group to view it Larry. Any pointers as to what is so intriguing ?

regards Howard

 

[Larry Sweetland]

You seem to need to join the group to view it Larry. Any pointers as to what is so intriguing ?

regards Howard

Someone posted a pic of a Nephus that they found in Bucks the other day, with two red spots at the rear of the elytra, and they wondered what it was. Someone ID'd it as bipunctatus (which has no British records), but as of yet no-ones explained how to separate it from bisignatus (few records and maybe none since 1996(?)). Do you have any info on how to tell those 2spp apart. There's only a (very good) dorsal image of it.

 

[Surreybirder]

Someone posted a pic of a Nephus that they found in Bucks the other day, with two red spots at the rear of the elytra, and they wondered what it was. Someone ID'd it as bipunctatus (which has no British records), but as of yet no-ones explained how to separate it from bisignatus (few records and maybe none since 1996(?)). Do you have any info on how to tell those 2spp apart. There's only a (very good) dorsal image of it.

I wonder if someone has posted the pic to Andrew Jewels. He is always very helpful and is very knowledgeable. I think h is email is on his website. identification of inconspicuous ladybirds | uk | Ladybird1

 

[MarkHows]

Already have

Mark

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Already have

Mark

Please let me know his thoughts, Mark. I see that the person who found it has now added that they found it in mature beech woodland.