For those interested in ladybirds, it isn’t every day you have the chance to admire a major rarity. Surprises don’t turn up all that often but when they do, they can be truly spectacular. Today was one of those days.
Following a post online from a local recorder who had discovered a most unusual pink ladybird in a local cemetery, today I was lucky to see it for myself. Meeting with fellow recorders to take a look, there was little doubt that this could be Poplar Ladybird (Oenopia conglobata). A truly spectacular discovery for reasons I’ll share below.
Oenopia conglobata is found in continental Europe, North Africa and temperate regions of Asia, but is conspicuously absent from the British Isles. Indeed, explore the NBN Atlas and you’ll see there are only two records of this species in the UK: one at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, and another not far from Glasgow. It is by all accounts, a majorly rare species in the UK turning up either as an accidental import from the continent or as a genuine visitor. I don’t have the answer to that, however.
In their Field Guide to British ladybirds, Helen Roy and Peter Brown list this species as a potential colonist in future so the fact it has popped up in an unassuming part of my home city is fascinating, to say the least. That said, regardless of rarity and dubious origins, this ladybird is a real beauty. With light pink wing cases and a striking black seam, it has square spots somewhat reminiscent of the 14-spot Ladybird. You can take a closer look at its various forms here.
The ladybird will need to be scrutinised by the experts before Newcastle appears on the map alongside Flamborough and Glasgow. Until then, a huge well done to the recorder. British ladybirds don’t come much better than that!
For me, ladybirds have been a real theme of 2022. Fresh from twelve months of ladybird recording, here’s a quick round-up of this year’s highlights.
Heather Ladybird
This is the one that really made me stop and think, and the ladybird which helped launch a year’s worth of frantic recording. Chatting with local recorder, Chris Barlow, back in early 2022, we noticed that records of Heather Ladybird were few and far between in Northumberland. Rather bizarre really given the wealth of heather-clad sites in our area. Indeed, the last accepted record of Heather Ladybird was one near Rothbury back in the 1980s.
Feeling somewhat inspired, back in March, I set out to Rothbury to explore an area of suitable habitat on the slopes above the town. Checking overwintering sites among more mature, rank Heather plants, it wasn’t long before several ladybirds were discovered. Success!
Future visits to Rothbury have yielded Heather Ladybirds in several squares while others have found it at several other local sites. Definitely a case of under-recorded, as opposed to genuinely rare.
Heaher Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus) near Rothbury, Norhumberland
Water Ladybird
Water Ladybird is a species that thanks to NHSN’s North East Ladybird Spot, started appearing at more and more local sites during 2021. Not because it was colonising these sites, but because more people began looking for it. I certainly found it at a surprising number of locations towards the back end of the year.
Continuing the search in 2022, I’ve encountered this species at several new sites locally, including a rather bizarre record on salt marsh at Holywell Dene. Small ponds, riversides, and ditches, they don’t seem all that picky and with a bit of practice, are quite easy to find among the stems of Bulrush and Common Reed.
The map for Water Ladybird has changed remarkably in Northumberland this year thanks to the hard work of citizen scientists. I’d call that a success story…
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) have been a real flavour of 2022
Cream-streaked Ladybird
Another local success story now, and back in early 2022, I was delighted to find what appeared to be the first Cream-streaked Ladybird for Tyneside and wider South Northumberland. A relatively new UK ladybird, this species is spreading and had already been recorded further North in Scotland. Really, a sighting here was somewhat overdue.
Found on a gravestone is Jesmond Old Cemetery – that place again – it was actually quite tricky to pick this ladybird out from the similarly sized and far more numerous Harlequins in the area. One spot in line one as opposed to two, I must remember that.
Since this encounter, local naturalists have found Cream-streaked Ladybird at several more sites within Newcastle. It is yet to be spotted further afield but must be there somewhere.
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in Jesmond, Newcastle
Hieroglyphic Ladybird
Probably the biggest surprise of 2022 came in the form of my first-ever encounter with a Hieroglyphic Ladybird. Having looked for this species unsuccessfully several times in the uplands, it came as quite a shock to find the melanistic individual below during a guided walk on the coast at Newbiggin. Definitely a “what are the chances of that” sort of moment and one made all the more entertaining by the colour form in question. Surely the black sort must be far scarcer? At least you’d think…
Striped Ladybird
Until last year, Striped Ladybird was perhaps my most sought-after British insect. When I finally encountered it at Havannah Nature Reserve in late 2021, after months of trying and plenty of tree bashing, I was chuffed. Elated even.
Fast forward to the end of 2022 and this species seems to be cropping up everywhere. Not just in larger areas of coniferous woodland but within isolated pines in car parks, cemeteries, and even those growing by the side of the busy A1. Heck, I even found one sitting on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s here in Heaton. All of this leads me to suspect that they are a little more widespread than the maps suggest…
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s
Coccidula scutellata
A rather pleasant surprise now and while leading a walk for a group of visitors at NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve this autumn, a brief pitstop to look for Water Ladybird turned up a whopping great surprise in the form of Coccidula scutellata. Recorded only once before in Northumberland and never in VC67, this was one species I thought had to turn up eventually but still, it was a surprise to find it at what is just about the most ‘ladybirded’ site in the North East.
As far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this one is also quite the beauty…
Coccidula scutellata at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Newcastle
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides
Perhaps the ladybird discovery of the year now and looking at the maps for Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, you would be forgiven for thinking they are found exclusively in more Southerly counties. Indeed, until this year, the most Northerly record of this species came from the Lancaster area. You can imagine my surprise then when several of these lovely little ladybirds fell out of a planted Dwarf Mountain Pine at Silverlink Biodiversity Park back in April. A very nice record indeed but as I shared more on this at the time, I’ll stop there.
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides at Silverlink, North Tyneside
All the lovely people
Whether heading out with my partner, friends or attendees at several events, courses, and trips, ladybird hunting this year has been a wonderfully collective affair. As someone who spends most of their time recording alone (such is the way of the naturalist) it has been lovely to share some of the discoveries above with others and to share knowledge and a few laughs in a host of lovely locations. The below photos are just a few of those taken this year – a big thank you to everyone who came along in 2022.
Ladybird recording with collegues from NHSNMatt poised and waiting to find 11-spot LadybirdA ladybird course in JesmondLadybird recording at NewbigginMore recently, attendees at a ladybird recording session at Havannah Nature Reserve
Exciting things to come
Despite my main interest lying in plants, it seems my love of ladybirds isn’t going away any time soon. I’m not entirely sure what it is about them I like so much but finding, recording, and above all else, enjoying them has become more than a favourite pastime. For this reason, over the next year, you’ll see me offering lots more ladybird-themed events, walks, and courses with NHSN. I hope some of you may consider coming along.
I am delighted (and a little terrified) to now also volunteer my time as a County Recorder for the fabulous UK Ladybird Survey – the national scheme monitoring our ladybirds. If you share sightings via iRecord, you’ll find me there verifying finds from Durham and Northumberland and getting very excited at all of your spotty discoveries.
With the arrival of winter, now seemed like a good time to look back on a year’s worth of ladybirds and look forward to a new course in 2023.
A New Short Talk
Golly. For someone who shies away from talks of any kind (and don’t even get me started on crowds), Zoom has been a bit of a godsend this year. Rounding off a year’s worth of ladybird recording, this week I recorded the first installment of a two-part series for NHSN looking at my 2022 ladybird year list.
Now, with plenty of fascinating (and quite exciting) species observed this year, I thought it would be nice to recap these in the order they were discovered. Doing so, hopefully, providing a feel for what can be encountered in the North East and importantly, when. Hopefully, the end result isn’t too cringe-worthy but I’ll let you be the judge of that.
I’ll be repeating the ladybird year list in 2023, of course, and look forward to sharing many more finds on this blog.
A New ‘Course’ too!
If you thought an online talk was out of my comfort zone, try a four-week course! Well, I say course in the loosest sense as the upcoming series of events I have planned for NHSN is more of a crash field course than anything. Still, I’m quite excited about this – the plan is to lead four trips to various corners of the North East looking for ladybirds. Lots of them actually, the aim being to see as many of our resident species as possible in a small timeframe. A mini year list, if you will!
This series of walks will see us explore different survey techniques, from sweep-netting and tree tapping to spot of heather-bashing too, and should be good fun. There is a charge but it isn’t a huge one and if you like ladybirds, it might be for you.
Perhaps I’ll see a few of you there but if not, and a course on ladybirds isn’t for you, there’ll be many events on the NHSN website.
A brief and evolving list of great places to find and record ladybirds in North East England.
While out and about recording ladybirds over the last few years, I’ve found myself spending an increasing amount of time at specific local sites. Owing to a blend of habitat diversity and accessibility, these sites have come up trumps in terms of the sheer diversity of ladybirds present, including many of specialists seldom seen in the local area.
While this list is far from definitive and doubtless, many more sites are yet to be revealed, I hope this page gives a flavour of what could be encountered while visiting these places. I’ll aim to update this page as with more excellent spots for ladybirds in the North East as they come to light. I will also try to add some away from Newcastle in due course.
Havannah Nature Reserve
With a mix of heathland, wetland and both coniferous and broadleaf woodland crammed into a relatively small area, it is little surprise that Havannah Nature Reserve is so diverse. The real highlight here is the conifer specialists with Striped, 18-Spot and Pine Scymnus easy to come by and Eyed Ladybird and Black Scymnus also cropping up.
In addition to those above, the heathland at Havannah is a reliable spot for Adonis’ Ladybird, while the pools on site hold Water Ladybird and Red Marsh Ladybirds. Add to these a plethora of more familiar species including Kidney-spot, Pine and Larch ladybirds and the total species count for the site comes in at an impressive 19 species. As far as sites for ladybirds in the North East go, this has to be one of the best.
Typical ladybird habitat at HavannahA melanistic Striped Ladybird at Havannah
Gosforth Nature Reserve
NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve is another site sporting a decent mix of woodland, wetland and grassland. While it is far harder work than Havannah, it has nevertheless turned up records of Striped Ladybird, Eyed Ladybird and Pine Scymnus in coniferous areas.
The wetlands hold Spotted Marsh Ladybird, Water Ladybird and Red Marsh ladybirds and the grassland areas have lots of 14-Spot and the occasional Adonis’ Ladybird. Pine Ladybird and Larch Ladybird can also be exceptionally abundant here resulting in a species tally of 17 species so far.
Given the number of pines on site, 18-Spot Ladybird has to be there somewhere…
Water Ladybird a Gosforth Nature Reserve22-Spot Ladybird at Gosforth Nature ReserveSpotted Marsh Ladybird a Gosforth Nature Reserve
Prudhoe Spetchells
Prudhoe’s chalk mounds make for an interesting walk whatever the season, though the chalk itself has little bearing on the ladybirds present. Once again, the diversity here stems from a nice mix of grassland, woodland and pools. The highlight across grassland areas here is 24-Spot Ladybird, a scarce species locally, while 18-Spot Ladybird and Pine Scymnus can be found in the pines alongside a host of more common species. Water Ladybird is also present on the nearby pools. Not too bad at 12 species so far but doubtless more to be discovered…
Pine Ladybirds a the Prudhoe Spetchells24-Spot Ladybird found in nearby grassland
Jesmond Old Cemetery
The first local cemetery to make the list and a great place to visit during the winter months. Here, a fantastic range of ladybirds can be found overwintering on headstones including 10-Spot, Pine and Cream-spot Ladybirds. More interesting perhaps is the presence of a single large pine on site which in 2022 alone yielded sightings of 18-Spot, Adonis, and the locally scarce Cream-streaked Ladybird. A more modest 11 species this time but a great range for an inner city greenspace.
That big old pine tree must also hold Striped and Eyed Ladybird and it will be interesting to see if they pop up in the near future.
Cream-streakeed Ladybird in Jesmond Old CemeteryPine Ladybird at Jesmond Old Cemetery18-Spot Ladybirds overwintering on a headstone
Benton Cemetery
Another cemetery now and like Jesmond, one sporting a fantastic set of isolated conifers. With suitable habitat condensed into a relatively small area, it can be easy to find a host of specialists here and sightings to date include Eyed, Striped, Cream-streaked and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as Pine Scymnus. From Larch Ladybird to Orange Ladybird, the common city-dwelling species are also represented here producing a fantastic site list of some 12 species.
Eyed Ladybird at Benton CemeteryA gahering of Orange and Harlequin Ladybirds
Newburn Riverside
The industrial estate, riverside and nearby brownfield land at Newburn lends itself well to ladybird hunting. With a mix of grassland, ponds and evergreen planting, a good day can reveal a surprising number of ladybirds. This is one of only two sites in Newcastle (so far) where Rhyzobius chrysomeloides has been recorded and the grassland here also holds it’s cousin, Rhyzobius litura. Add to these Water Ladybirds around the pools, conifer specialists such as Striped and Eyed Ladybirds and plenty of common species and there’s an awful lot to see. 13 species and counting!
Rhyzobius litura at Newburn RiversideStriped ladybird at Newburn Business ParkA view over the brownfield land at Newburn
From the city car parks and urban cemeteries to chalk mounds at Prudhoe, it has been a fantastic fortnight for ladybird recording.
With little time for trips further afield, walks during the closing days of September have seen me sticking closer to home than usual. That said, it has still been a busy few weeks on the ladybird front. With trips to the glorious Prudhoe Spetchells, local cemeteries and a handful of urban areas, there’s been an awful lot to see.
Starting with 24-Spot Ladybird and once again, this usually scarce ladybird has proven itself exceptionally abundant along the Tyne. Visiting Prudhoe, Matt and I found no fewer than 30 while exploring a small patch of grassland by the sewage works. More interesting still, several were also found high up in a pine tree – an odd location for a primarily terrestrial insect. Elsewhere, 24-Spot Ladybirds have also cropped up of late at Wylam and in the city at Elswick.
Seldom numerous, Pine Ladybird is not a species I encounter frequently here outside of the winter months. With this in mind, it was good to find decent numbers while exploring the Spetchells – the majority being swept from immature Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Away from Prudhoe, last week, a single Pine Ladybird was also found in the car-park of the Mercedes garage at Scotswood – who says ladybird recorders don’t visit some glamourous locations?
Whereas Pine Ladybird is a species I see infrequently, a couple of other ladybirds are far more reliable. I won’t spend much time on 7-Spot Ladybird and 2-Spot Ladybird – both are somewhat omnipresent here – but both were encountered at Prudhoe too, predominately on pine.
Slightly more exciting now and the short walk between Wylam and Prudhoe provided a nice opportunity to explore Moo Pond, a small but productive wetland en route to the Spetchells. With plenty of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) it is usually reliable for Water Ladybird and sure enough, with only a few minutes of searching, the individual below was found tucked away in a leaf-sheath.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata), Prudhoe, Northumberland
Something a little different now and on the same visit to Prudhoe, it was nice to encounter 18-Spot Ladybird while scrutinising the pines growing on Spetchell three. A scarce conifer specialist, this is one of the species I come by least often. This record looks to be the first for the site but seems somewhat overdue given the wealth of conifers present.
A few days later, it was nice to also three of these ladybirds at the ever-reliable Jesmond Old Cemetery, while this weekend, two more were found at Havannah Nature Reserve.
Taking a quick detour into the world of inconspicuous ladybirds now and as ever, Pine Scymnus remains relatively easy to find locally. The one pictured below was beaten from Scots Pine atop the Prudhoe Spetchells though others were found recently at Gosforth Nature Reserve and Havannah.
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis), Prudhoe, Northumberland
One of the easier ladybirds to find locally, 22-Spot Ladybirds have been encountered recently at Prudhoe, as well as at Gosforth. Most interesting was a sighting of six ladybirds feeding on a mildew-ridden Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) at Elswick, while a few more were found secreted away in some ornamental Euonymus. I must remember to check planted shrubs too!
Having driven past it many times, our visit to the Western side of Newcastle provided the perfect opportunity to explore some of the roadside grasslands that fringes the busy main road at Scotswood. Planted by the council with an interesting chalky mix, it has always looked fairly promising. After ten minutes of searching, I’d all but given up hope when the beautiful Adonis’ Ladybird below appeared in the net. A real treat.
Searching for ladybirds along Scotswood Road, NewcastleAdonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata), Scotswood, Newcastle
Now for the undisputed highlight of the last fortnight’s ladybird searching. Cream-streaked Ladybird remains a scarce species in the North East, though one which is evidently spreading northward. I’ve recorded this species at a few sites locally of late but each time the encounter comes as a surprise. It has been great to catch up with this species twice recently: firstly at Jesmond Old Cemetery, a known haunt, and secondly, in an isolated pine at Scotswood. Surely this is one of the best-looking British ladybirds?
Last but not least, something a little closer to home. Continuing a good run of Striped Ladybird encounters and having noticed a few as yet unladybirded pine trees behind my local Sainsbury’s in Heaton, I opted for a quick look a fortnight past. After a little searching, it was exciting to find this handsome individual below at rest on a nearby fence post. A full-fat tick for my little urban patch…
This week, I was delighted to record what appears to be the first Spotted Marsh Ladybird recorded in South Northumberland (VC67).
Searching various local wetlands this year for Red Marsh Ladybird and Water Ladybird, one thing that has persisted at the back of my mind had been the possibility of finding the former’s far scarcer cousin: Coccidula scutellata.
A tiny but striking wetland specialist, this little ladybird is fairly common in the South of England but records grow incredibly scarce up North. It is apparently completely absent from Scotland, with only a few records in Cumbria and only one in the North East – a report from Newton Links, North Northumberland, in 1990.
A small, orange ladybird sporting two distinctive dark spots on the elytra, as far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this isn’t a hard one to identify. The problem with recording this species seems to be the difficulty associated with finding it. Flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) seems to be a good place to start according to Andrew Jewels and sure enough, this ladybird was swept from the leaves of emergent irises.
A short guide to some of the black ladybirds you could encounter while ladybird spotting across the UK.
Britain is home to some 26 species of conspicuous ladybird. Far from your storybook red ladybird, many of these species are black in colour. Whether we’re talking about black ladybirds with red spots or melanistic (black) forms of familiar species, the similarities between these can be confusing. Below, you’ll find a little more information on some of Britain’s black ladybirds…
Identifying black ladybirds
Harlequin Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis
Probably the commonest of the UK’s black ladybirds, the Harlequin Ladybird is incredibly variable. Both the Conspicua and Spectabilis forms of this large invader are black in colour, albeit with differing patterns of red spots.
In general, Harlequin Ladybirds are large and domed in shape. While size is a good indicator, the best way to separate this from other species is by the markings on the pronotum (the area behind the head). Harlequins usually sport two conspicuous white patches on either side. Melanistic 10-Spot and Hieroglyphic ladybirds also have these, albeit to a lesser extent.
If your ladybird is exceptionally obliging, you’ll also notice that the legs of this species are brown.
Pine Ladybird, Exochomus quadripustulatus
The Pine Ladybird is a small species sporting four red spots, two of which are distinctively comma-shaped. Positioned towards the front of each wing case, these are the best way to separate this species from other black ladybirds.
In contrast to the Harlequin which shows a variable amount of white on the pronotum, that of the Pine Ladybird is entirely black.
Another good feature to look for is the pie-like rim around the outside of the wing cases. This feature is shared only by species within the same family and helps narrow down your choices.
Kidney-Spot Ladybird, Chilocorus renipustulatus
The Kidney-spot Ladybird looks a lot like the Pine Ladybird to which it is closely related. It shares the same domed shape, pie-like rim around the wing cases and black pronotum.
Kidney-spot Ladybirds are best identified by their large, red and parallel spots. One on each wing case. The only other ladybird boasting a similar pattern is the Harlequin; though these have white on the pronotum and brown legs.
This species is a bit more particular in its habitat choice and prefers deciduous woodland. It is often spotted on the trunks of willow or Ash in spring.
10-Spot Ladybird, Adalia decempunctata
The 10-spot Ladybird is perhaps the most variable ladybird in Britain. With dozens of colour forms, they can look like any other British ladybird, at least at first glance.
The chequered decempustulata form of the 10-spot Ladybird is black with a grid-like pattern of red or orange markings. Unlike many other black ladybirds, its legs are orange in colour and the pronotum features an extensive area of white. A melanistic form, lacking these features, also exists.
10-spot Ladybird is a generalist species and can be encountered in a diverse range of habitats. They are one of the ladybirds most often spotted in urban areas.
2-Spot Ladybird, Adalia bipunctata
Just to confuse things further, like the 10-spot Ladybird, the familiar 2-spot Ladybird also comes in various dark forms. Most often, these will have either four or six red spots sat atop black wing cases.
The four-spot form of this species has elongated, sometimes rectangular, red spots at the front of the wing cases. The six-spot form has four red spots, as opposed to two, towards the rear of the wing cases.
Fun fact: black forms of 2-spot Ladybird are thought to be more common in Northern areas where the darker base colour helps them absorb more heat from the sun.
One of Britain’s scarcer or at least harder to come by black ladybirds. The Heather Ladybird is a specialist species favouring Heather plants, most often in an upland setting. It can also be found in lowland and coastal heaths and can turn up in gardens where it may occur on cypress trees.
Closely resembling the Kidney-spot and Pine Ladybirds in shape and jizz, what sets this species apart is the distinctive line of red markings on the elytra. This can be fused or divided and may look like a solid line or a line of spots.
Hieroglyphic Ladybird, Coccinella hieroglyphica
The typical form of the Hieroglyphic ladybird is unmistakable and wouldn’t usually fit into a like blog post like this. Unfortunately, however, a melanistic form of this species also exists!
Black Hieroglyphic Ladybirds lack any visible markings on the elytra but do possess a pair of small white marks on the pronotum. They also have black legs and sometimes, two small ‘wedge-shaped’ white markings where the pronotum meets the wing cases.
This is a scarcely recorded species most associated with the uplands, though they do turn up elsewhere from time to time. Black forms are uncommon but cannot be ruled out.
With visits to some of my favourite haunts and lots to see elsewhere, July has been a great month for ladybird recording.
I haven’t been as active in my ladybird hunting this month – peak wildflower season leaving little time for insects. That said, I’ve still managed a few trips out in search of these fascinating little insects. Mostly to familiar sites which continue to turn up new and exciting species, though also a few new locations too.
With adult ladybirds present again after an early-summer hiatus, I have managed a respectable eighteen species in July. Among these, some nice scarcities and a number of new site records. Some highlights of July’s ladybird recording can be found below.
Rising Sun Country Park
Early in the month, a Friday off saw me walking to Rising Sun Country Park in search of conifer ladybirds. Before even getting started with the trees, several familiar species were noted on the walk in. 7-spot Ladybird was ubiquitous and 22-spot Ladybird was observed on a stand of mildew-addled Hogweed. More interesting perhaps was an Orange Ladybird found atop a bin in the Asda car park. Not a bad start…
Searching the trees at the base of the park’s pit heap, it wasn’t long until the first of the days specialist ladybirds put in an appearance. The lovely 18-Spot Ladybird below was one of two adults found on Scots Pine.
18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
In a different area of the park, it was nice to catch up with not one but three Eyed Ladybirds. Britain’s largest ladybird, I seem to have good luck finding this species on the lower branches of Scots Pine, though, for something so large, they can be quite cryptic. A sweep net helps!
Eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
Newburn
Two visits to Newburn last week for entirely different reasons, one an Natural History Society bioblitz and the other, a riverside walk with the other half. Despite their differences, both came up trumps with a fantastic haul of ladybirds.
On Saturday, some searching and sweeping around Urban Green Newcastle’s Tyne Riverside Country Park yielded the usual trio of 7-Spot, 14-Spot and Harlequin ladybirds. Better still, Larch Ladybird was found in the memorial garden and later, a 24-Spot Ladybird was swept from some riverside Mugwort. So much for only being found on campion and grasses, eh?
Returning to Newburn on Sunday, Matt in toe, we decided to spend some time beating some of the riverside conifers having spotted the larvae of Eyed Ladybird earlier in the summer. No such luck but we did encounter the rather handsome Striped Ladybird shown below.
Having only encountered my first Striped Ladybird in early 2022, I am now stumbling across this species pretty much anywhere with good-sized Scots Pines, but more on that later…
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Adonis’ Ladybird is a scarce species of dry grassland habitats. Known to favour brownfield sites, I wasn’t too surprised to find the striking individual below at Newburn. Perched atop a stand of Wild Parsnip, it was nice to compare this to the larger 7-Spot Ladybirds nearby. Both species had clearly been drawn here by the glut of aphids and could be seen feeding on Willow-Parsnip Aphids (Cavariella theobaldi).
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
Highlights aside, there were lots of other ladybirds to see at Newburn. Searching pines, it was nice to see Pine Scymnus again after quite some time. Likewise, the tiny Epaulet Ladybird appears to be increasing again at what is only the second known site for this species locally.
Finally, the melanistic 2-spot Ladybird below seemed worthy of a photo too…
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides)2-spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
Cramlington Industrial Estate
While I’ve been visiting regular sites in search of ladybirds, I have also been trying to fill some gaps too. Having noticed several accessible pines by the A1068 at Cramlington, on Friday I decided to take a look.
Almost immediately upon arriving at Cramlington Industrial Estate, the Striped Ladybird below was found on the tip of a pine branch. A new square for what might just be my favourite British ladybird.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Searching the trees that line the road by the big factory here, I was surprised to find five 18-Spot Ladybirds too. Usually the scarcest of the conifer ladybirds, at least in my experience, they seem to be more abundant than previously thought. Or perhaps I am just getting my eye in…
18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
The isolated Scots Pine pictured below grows on the central verge South of Cramlington Industrial Estate. Having driven past it many times, I have always thought it looked ‘good for ladybirds’. I was right! Dodging traffic, a search of the tree in question yielded more Striped and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as four Pine Scymnus.
An isolated pine rich in ladybirds – a lesson for ladybird recording in the futureStriped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Conifer specialists aside, Cramlington held a good variety of other ladybirds too. Predictably, 22-Spot Ladybird was found by searching Hogweed and Pine Ladybird was discovered by shaking a non-native conifer of some description. A single Meadow ladybird was also found in the somewhat barren grasslands at Northumberlandia.
As I visit more local sites in search of ladybirds and add more sightings to iRecord, I am becoming increasingly interested in this fascinating group of insects.
Keen to take this further, I have created a dedicated space on this blog where I’ll share everything ladybird related in the future. Take a look below.
To help identify a few of the trickier species out there, recently, I’ve been experimenting by rearing ladybird larvae at home.
Identifying ladybirds can be tricky at the best of times. Sure, there are the obvious ones, Water Ladybird for example, but also a fleet of more difficult species. I’m looking at you, inconspicuous ladybirds…
Identifying ladybirds gets much trickier during summer when many species (but not all) are between generations. In practice, this means that adults are scarce and instead, ladybird recorders must look at larvae. Gulp!
I’m dreadful at identifying ladybird larvae, I admit it. I recently purchased a fantastic FSC guide to UK’s ladybird species but still seem to be struggling. Keen not to lose those all-important records, however, I have come up with somewhat of a plan. This summer, I’m going to rear a few of the tricker larvae and see what they turn into!
Ladybird larvae
Keeping things manageable, over the last week or so I have gathered around a dozen larvae from several places. These were located initially on a mix of conifers and within grassland, hopefully suggesting a good range of species.
A selection of those currently in my care can be seen below…
Found on Teasel within grasslandLikely Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, found on Pinus mugoA large larvae found on Scots PinePresumably 2-Spot Ladybird but we’ll seeLikely the same as one and similarly found within grassland
Rearing ladybird larvae
Now, I confess, I have little experience caring for ladybird larvae. Thanks to a little educated guesswork, however, things do seem to be going well. Fed on a range of aphid species, from Rose Aphid to Black Cherry Aphid, all larvae appear to be growing. An interesting observation when it comes to some of the pine specialists. A hearty diet has already led to one larva (shown below) pupating. It shouldn’t be long until we learn this one’s identity…
Gathering aphids can, surprisingly, be quite hard work and collecting the numbers needed can be time-consuming. While our garden is lacking in the little sap-suckers this year, nearby cherry trees, thankfully, are not.
I’m working on the assumption that this could be 11-Spot Ladybird
Besides food, the only other I needed to consider was how to house the ladybirds. They don’t need too much space, but shouldn’t be placed together for fear of eating one another. To avoid taking up too much space, I’ve opted for old fast food containers.
After selecting a suitable abode, rearing ladybird larvae is simply a case of adding some damp tissue to increase humidity. You could also add a few sticks or bits of plant matter for effect.
I feel like a child again as a result of this little experiment. Not only is it fun, ladybird larvae being amazing to watch, but it should provide some interesting records too. With grid references noted, once the larvae reach adulthood, all ladybirds will be photographed and submitted to iRecord. I’ll then return the critters to areas of suitable habitat.
Inspired by the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s North East Ladybird Spot and the #LadybirdYearList challenge launched on Twitter by Andrew Jewels, this year I’ve been dedicating quite a bit of time to finding and recording the North East’s ladybirds.
A group I had previously ignored bar the odd encounter with some of the more common species, the entire process of seeking out these colourful little beetles has proven thoroughly addictive and so far, I’ve managed c250 records of 26 species across the region in habitats that range from city cemeteries to agricultural fields and upland moors.
The sheer diversity of ladybirds out there to be discovered is nothing short of mindblowing and with the North East seemingly poorly recorded, there seems to be a great deal still to be discovered. With that in mind, here’s a short run-down of the species encountered in 2022 with a little information on where they were found.
1# Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones, beating conifers, visually on broadleaf trees, Buddleia, bramble etc.
Probably the most conspicuous ladybird in Newcastle, it was inevitable that Harlequin Ladybird would be the first encountered. Sure enough, on my first visit of the year to Jesmond Old Cemetery, many hundreds of these variable invaders were found overwintering on headstones. Here, colour forms on display included succinea, spectabilis and conspicua, with some ladybirds even having no spots at all.
Since January, I’ve recorded these large ladybirds at just about every site I’ve visited within the city limits but so far, have failed to find any at all while walking in the wider countryside, or in towns further North where they seem altogether scarcer.
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
2# 2-Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; visually on grasses, Buddleia, Euonymus, Oxford Ragwort etc.
Less numerous than the Harlequins but still present in good numbers, the same visit to Jesmond Old Cemetery also yielded a number of 2-Spot Ladybirds. Again, tucked up on a multitude of gravestones across the site.
Since this initial sighting, I have found this species in a multitude of cemeteries across Tyneside and more recently, have begun to notice them out and about on vegetation. Interestingly, non-native Buddleja davidii seems to be a popular hangout for this species locally, though I’ve also spotted a couple on Euonymus and Scots Pine. So far, I haven’t found a single 2-Spot outside of the city!
2-Spot Ladybird remains fairly common in the North East, despite wide-ranging declines nationally. Perhaps this will change as the Harlequin further consolidates its range here?
2-Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
3# Orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; beating Scots Pine, English Oak and Ivy.
Another from 21 January now and ever obvious owing to their bright colour, Jesmond Old Cemetery also held a few Orange Ladybird. While plentiful, these were nowhere near as numerous as at other cemeteries visited through January and February with many hundreds at Preston Cemetery, in North Shields, in particular.
An increasingly common species in the city, these have been one of the most numerous ladybirds encountered this year to date and I’ve had good luck finding them by beating Sycamore, Ivy and Scots Pine, both in urban areas and out in a more rural setting.
Orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
4# Pine Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
First recorded: 21 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; beating Scots Pine, Norway Spruce and Gorse; visually on Ash trunks.
The final species found on my initial visit to Jesmond Old Cemetery was the Pine Ladybird. One of the most numerous ladybirds to be found at inner-city cemeteries, these too have a handy habit of overwintering on gravestones. By early March, more were seen at a variety of sites as they congregated on the trunks of Ash and Scots Pine to begin breeding.
Elsewhere in the city, I’ve had good luck finding this species by beating Scots Pine at Havannah, Gosforth Nature Reserve and Prudhoe and by checking planted Norway Spruce at Stocksfield. A few individuals were found on Gorse at those sites too.
Again, this is another species that seems to fizzle out the further away from Newcastle I get. An odd observation given their status as a supposedly common and abundant ladybird!
Pine Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
#5 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
First recorded: 22 January, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: beating Gorse and conifers in winter; just about everywhere come spring.
Seldom seen on gravestones, my first 7-Spot Ladybird of the year was found by beating Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve. This initial individual was quickly followed by many more as Gorse and Scots Pine were checked at other local sites.
At the time of writing this (in late May) 7-Spot Ladybirds are appearing just about everywhere befitting their status as one of Britain’s most common ladybirds. They require little introduction and apparently, are far from picky.
Found by: searching gravestones; beating broadleaf and coniferous trees; visually on Gooseberry, willow etc.
Rarely numerous but apparently rather widespread, Cream-Spot Ladybird is a funny species. Some days, it can take quite a bit of searching to find one and on others, they’re virtually falling from trees.
My first Cream-Spot Ladybird of the year was found again at Jesmond Old Cemetery with further sightings throughout Winter at a good number of cemeteries across Newcastle and the surrounding area. Since then, further individuals have been encountered by beating Ivy, Scots Pine and planted Dwarf Mountain Pine. Others were found by visual searches of Goat Willow and Gooseberry.
In early May, one was even discovered on a Newcastle University minibus during an outing to Allen Banks!
Cream-Spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)
#7 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
First recorded: 22 January, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones; beating broadleaf and coniferous trees; sweep netting grassland; visually on Euonymus.
Concluding what I would describe as the ‘routine bunch’ of ladybirds easily found in the city, 10-Spot Ladybird came next with good numbers discovered in Jesmond Cemetery. The striking decempustulata form shown below was observed here too.
Interestingly, moving into Spring and early-Summer, this species has become one of the most frequently encountered species on walks across the region, found everywhere from mature woodland and coastal dunes to conifer plantations and urban gardens.
10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
#9 Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
First recorded: 23 January, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Found by: searching the leaf sheaths of Bulrush and Common Reed; within Gorse close to water; sweep netting marginal vegetation.
Having observed my first in 2021, searching for Water Ladybirds has become somewhat of an addiction. Finding the year’s first at Gosforth Nature Reserve on 23 January, I’ve since observed this species at a number of new sites in and around Newcastle, including Woolsington Pond, Newburn and Silverlink Biodiversity Park.
On most occasions, this species has been found by searching the leaf sheaths of Bulrush and Common Reed, or by sweep-netting waterside vegetation. More unusually, a single Water Ladybird was also found while beating Gorse – a rather odd choice of wintering site for a riparian species.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
#9 Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa)
First recorded: 24 January, Iris Brickfield Park
Found by: beating Scots Pine; searching the leaf sheaths of Bulrush and by sweep netting marginal grasses.
The first of the inconspicuous ladybirds spotted this year and, according to the books, one of the easiest to find. Usually by sweep netting waterside plants such as sedges and rushes. Found a fair distance from the nearest pond, the individual shown below was actually discovered by beating Scots Pine in search of some of the larger conspicuous species and as such, caused a small amount of confusion.
Fast forward to April and May, and further individuals were found in much more traditional settings around ponds at Havannah Nature Reserve and Woolsington. Further sites have been searched too, of course, but to little success. Contrary to the literature, I find Coccidula rufa surprisingly hard to find!
First recorded: 27 January, Rising Sun Country Park
Found by: beating pine and by searching the trunks of Ash on sunnier days.
Kidney-spot Ladybirds seem to have been easier to find this year; though whether this is due to abundance or simply knowing where to look, I am unsure. Finding my first on Lodgepole Pine, others have since been discovered by searching the trunks of semi-mature Ash trees on warmer days, both at Gosforth Nature Reserve and further North at Rothbury.
Kidney-spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus)
#11 Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
First recorded: 6 February, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: beating the lower branches of mature Scots Pines, also within Gorse close to Scots Pine.
The first of this year’s exciting ladybirds, I first observed this exquisite conifer specialist by searching Scots Pines at Havannah Nature Reserve. Proving particularly good for this species, I’ve since found them here on a total of six visits, including a surprise encounter with the unusual melanistic form shown below.
Struggling to find this species away from Havannah, my only other encounter to date came from Gosforth Nature Reserve in the aftermath of our late winter storms where a single ladybird was found low-down on Gorse. Albeit in close proximity to a stand of pines from which it may well have been blown.
Found by: overwintering within Stinking Iris and Gorse, and by sweep netting grasses, Hogweed and other plants.
I do love these! A fairly abundant species of verges and other rank areas, my first 22-Spot Ladybirds of the year were found sheltering within a stand of Stinking Iris in my local park.
Fast forward to spring and more still have been encountered by sweep netting Hogweed at a multitude of sites around Newcastle. A few individuals were also found by searching Gorse and other shrubs such as Euonymus and Dogwood.
First recorded: 19 February, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: sweep netting grasses; on heather and gorse in open settings; by beating Scots Pine.
A scarce ladybird associated with grassland on dry, calcareous soils, Adonis’ Ladybird can be a tricky species to find locally. My first encounter of the year came with two individuals found within Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve. Later, another individual was found overwintering on ornamental Black Pine at Jesmond Cemetery – a somewhat surprising location given this species’ preference for brownfield, heath and coastal settings.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
14# 18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata)
First recorded: 16 February, Jesmond Cemetery
Found by: overwintering on gravestones near to pinus species and by beating of immature Scots Pine.
A rare or at least under-recorded ladybird in the North East, I hadn’t seen this striking conifer specialist at all until this year. During an event at Jesmond Cemetery, it was therefore incredibly exciting to discover a wintering aggregation of this species on a gravestone beneath the same Black Pine that also held the Adonis’ Ladybird shown above.
Despite searching a surplus of conifers during visits to a whole manner of sites this year, so far I have only succeeded in finding this species at one additional site. This being Havannah Nature Reserve where a single individual was encountered, somewhat unsurprisingly, by beating Scots Pine.
Found by: overwintering on gravestones close to Black Pine; by beating Scots Pine and ornamental species.
Virtually unknown in the North East prior to 2022, it came as quite a surprise to find my first Cream-streaked Ladybird at Jesmond Cemetery on 26 February. Again, by beating the same Black Pine that also held 18-Spot and Adonis’ Ladybird. This is quickly becoming my favourite tree…
A new arrival to the UK, this species is currently expanding its range northward and does not yet seem established up here to the same extent as in Southern England. That said, encounters with this species at Walker and Benton later in Spring suggest that it may be more abundant than previously thought.
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata)
16# Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
First recorded: 5 March, Benton Cemetery
Found by: searching gravestones in close proximity to ornamental Black Pine.
The UK’s largest ladybird, this species appears to be rather hit and miss, even while searching seemingly perfect, pine-rich sites. So far this year, I have only succeeded in finding Eyed Ladybirds at a single site – Benton Cemetery – where multiple individuals were seen at rest on gravestones in close proximity to Black Pine.
Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
17# Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata)
First recorded: 5 March, Gosforth Nature Reserve
Found by: beating Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce and European Larch. Also overwintering within Gorse.
A ladybird which took a frustratingly long time to find, now that I know where and how to look, I’ve found Larch Ladybird to be fairly abundant at a good number of local sites. Finding my first on Sitka Spruce, I’ve also had good luck finding these muted but beautiful insects by beating Scots Pine, European Larch and Norway Spruce.
Larger conifer plantations seem to be the best place to search for this ladybird though isolated conifers within broadleaf woodland have also proven productive with this species also encountered on lone trees at Allen Banks, Stocksfield and Riding Mill.
Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata)
18# Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)
First recorded: 13 March, Benton Cemetery
Found by: beating Scots Pine, both within woodland and where isolated trees grow in other settings.
Owing to a scarcity of local records, I had assumed that this inconspicuous ladybird would be difficult to find in my local area. So much so, that I actually twitched one found by another local recorder in Benton Cemetery on 13 March. Oh, how wrong I was…
Fast forward to early summer and I have since encountered this species at a total of nine sites, invariably by searching young Scots Pines. Isolated trees seem to yield good results when searching for this species, as seen at Rothbury, yet the best place to check appears to be the sunnier edges of shelterbelts, plantations and other areas rich in Scots Pine. I am yet to find Scymnus suturalis on any of the non-native or ornamental conifers.
Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis)
19# Black Scymnus (Scymnus nigrinus)
First recorded: 20 March, Havannah Nature Reserve
Found by: scrutinising bark crevices on an immature Scots Pine.
Another unashamed ladybird twitch now and upon hearing that local recorder, Chris Barlow, had discovered a population of this elusive inconspicuous ladybird on an isolated Scots Pine at Havannah Nature Reserve, it would have been rude not to take a look.
Spending quite a bit of time beating conifers, I have looked for my own Scymnus nigrinus since to no avail. Perhaps unsurprising given how few records of this species there are both in the North East and across the wider UK.
Black Scymnus (Scymnus nigrinus)
20# Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus)
First recorded: 25 March, Rothbury
Found by: beating particularly old and gnarly Heather plants; visually searching Scots Pine growing near Heather.
Perhaps the ladybird highlight of the year so far! Looking at the NBN Atlas back in March, there appeared to be no confirmed records of Heather Ladybird at all in the North East excluding an unconfirmed 1980’s sighting near Rothbury. Strange, given our surplus of moorland!
Setting off for the hills above Rothbury, I was therefore delighted to find multiple Heather Ladybirds by searching old Heather plants, as stated in the resources. Visual searching yielded no results at all (they’re surprisingly hard to see) but shaking plants over a sweep net seems to work well.
On a further visit to a nearby square, I was pleased to find this species again. Only this time, halfway up the trunk of a Scots Pine.
Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus)
21# Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura)
First recorded: 26 March, Bedlington
Found by: searching tussock of Cock’s-foot and other grasses in winter; sweep netting grasses and Common Knapweed later in the year.
The only inconspicuous ladybird I’d found on more than one occasion before 2022, my first Meadow Ladybirds were discovered by sweep netting tussocks within rough grassland at Bedlington.
While they can take a bit of finding, I am inclined to agree with the online resources that state this species to be one of our commonest ladybirds. Indeed, when I have taken the time to look, they have been found at most of my frequently visited grassland sites, from Newburn to Newbiggin.
Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura)
22# 11-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella undecimpunctata)
First recorded: 8 April, Alnmouth
Found by: beating Gorse growing on the coast
These ladybirds seem to be rather elusive. To date, the only individual found this year was discovered by beating a stand of Gorse close to the shore at Alnmouth in VC68. Despite a surplus of Gorse elsewhere on the Northumberland coast, further searches have so far yielded nothing at all.
In 2021, I had some luck finding this species by sweep netting coastal grassland, as well as what might have been a fluke encounter while searching heathland at Thropton. Hopefully, I’ll stumble across a few more before year’s end…
Found by: searching tussock in winter; sweep netting grasses and herbaceous vegetation with grassland and arable margins.
Another species which appears quite scarce ‘up here’ the 24-Spot Ladybird is a grassland species through and through. Finding my first back in April by searching a seemingly unassuming tussock of Cock’s-foot, I’ve since had good luck searching for this species at a number of local sites. Not least, along the margins of arable fields where some 25+ individuals were found on a single walk close to Stocksfield.
Found by: beating ornamental conifers including Dwarf Mountain Pine and Black Pine.
Perhaps the most surprising and exciting find of the year so far was the discovery of a population of inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, at Silverlink Industrial Estate in North Tyneside.
A predominately Southern species found as far North as Lancaster, this initial record represents a fair old leap Northward for this tiny yet beautiful ladybird and this encounter certainly wasn’t anticipated. With further visits to the site yielding further records in new squares, and a new population springing up at Newburn, it seems these little insects could actually be rather widespread locally. I wonder where else they could be hiding?
Found by: sweep netting herbaceous vegetation including bramble, nettle, dock and Common Knapweed.
Usually, one of the commonest ladybirds in the local area owing to a broad love of grassland, verges, fields and scrubby places, I actually struggled somewhat to find 14-Spot Ladybird at the start of the season. Regularly sweeping areas of suitable habitat, it wasn’t until 13 May that I finally stumbled across one at Silverlink Biodiversity Park.
One of the last ladybird species to appear each year, things have thankfully changed over the past few weeks with these striking yellow ladybirds since found at a good number of local sites.
A real surprise on a recent trip to Newbiggin, the sight of a small, black ladybird perched atop a stand of coastal grasses initially had me thinking of an odd 10-Spot Ladybird. Finding it a tad unusual, I eventually took a closer look and nabbed a few photos – the suspect ladybird soon revealed to be the melanistic form of the Hieroglyphic Ladybird!
A heathland species associated with mature Heather plants, looking at NBN, it would seem that this ladybird does crop up away from the uplands from time to time. With a couple of unconfirmed records in the Northumbrian hills, this would appear to be the first confirmed record for South Northumberland (VC67).
Continuing this year’s quest to find and record ladybirds across the North East, back at the end of March I popped up to Rothbury in search of the elusive Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus). This is a species which should, theoretically, be incredibly numerous up here given the abundance of Heather but despite this, there is only one previous local record – an unconfirmed sighting near Rothbury in 1984.
Fast forward somewhat and after an hour of shaking old clumps of Heather – this species apparently has a penchant for woody plants – I was delighted to find not one but two ladybirds sitting in the bottom of my net. Success!
Superficially similar to its close cousin, the far more abundant Kidney-spot Ladybird, this species boasts a series of horizontal splodges as opposed to the distinct circular spots of the latter. Like its relative, it is specialised to feed on scale insects in contrast to the aphids consumed by familiar ladybirds such as the 7-Spot.
Popping back to Rothbury in early April to explore some outlying squares, I encountered Heather Ladybird again, this time head-height in the branches of a young Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). This individual made for much better viewing and the pictures are certainly better absent the usual sweep net detritus.
This cryptic little ladybird simply must be more widespread in Northumberland. Known now from Rothbury, Dipton Woods and more unusually, the coast at Howick, there have got to be more sites out there to be discovered. I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on Heather during future walks in the uplands…
Recently, I was delighted to discover a population of the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, in Tyneside.
Looking for ladybirds in the early part of this year has been great fun and already, it feels like I’m making some headway in tracking down a few of the ‘scarcer’ and more inconspicuous species to be found locally. Beating conifers for Cream-streaked Ladybird, sweeping grasses for Rhyzobius litura and perusing tussocks for 24-Spot Ladybird; it has all been fairly straightforward when following the notes contained within Helen Roy and Peter Brown’s fab book.
That said, there is clearly something to be said for looking in seemingly unusually places too – a row of ornamental Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) adorning a roadside in Silverlink Industrial Estate seemingly not the most obvious place to hunt for ladybirds. Opting to check the trees anyway, I was delighted last week to encounter not one but several Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides), a species I have read much about but hadn’t given much thought to given that it isn’t meant to occur in the North East.
A predominately Southern species found as far North as Lancaster, this little ladybird is particularly fond of evergreen trees and shrubs. I confess it does look very similar to the common Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura) but thankfully, a few of the individuals seen were very strongly marked and showed the distinct ‘shoulder-pads’ associated with this species. It has since been confirmed by inconspicuous ladybird recorder, Andrew Jewels.
There’s quite a distance between Lancaster and Tyneside so this sighting looks to mark quite an exciting range expansion for this tiny but rather interesting ladybird. Further visits to the site by other local naturalists have since revealed them in new squares and it seems they could be fairly widespread across Silverlink. Looking at the maps, who’d have thought?
A quick summary of a productive month spent exploring the scarcer ladybirds of Newcastle.
While out and about in search of ladybirds this last few weeks, I have been lucky enough to stumble across a number of scarce and unusual species in addition to the plentiful 7-Spots and Orange Ladybirds so many of us know and love. Several of which have been completely new for this incredibly amateur ladybird spotter. Here, I thought I’d share a few highlights from what has been a glorious few weeks spent finding and recording these colourful insects.
Starting, you guessed it, in local cemeteries and perhaps the highlight of the past few weeks, and it was exciting to find singles of Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in both Jesmond Old Cemetery and Benton Cemetery. A fairly large, robust ladybird similar in appearance to the non-native Harlequin, a quick search of NBN would suggest this conifer specialist is yet to be recorded in South Northumberland (VC67), until now.
The first of these was beaten from Black Pine (Pinus nigra), while the second was found on a gravestone. There are surely many more of these large and impressive ladybirds out there to be discovered.
While searching for ladybirds as part of the North East Ladybird Spot, one species I had desperately wanted to find was the 18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata). Another conifer specialist sporting a distinctive mix of cream spots atop maroon wing cases, this is likely another under-recorded ladybird owing to its tendency to hide out within the dense foliage of conifers.
Visiting Jesmond Old Cemetery a fortnight back, it was therefore quite exciting to find not one but five of these insects nestled on a gravestone beneath the only pine in the cemetery. The same one, in fact, that also held the Cream-streaked above. These isolated trees really can come up trumps when it comes to specialist ladybirds!
One species I seem to be encountering with increasing frequency in the North East is the Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata). A ladybird associated with sandy, open soils, this is a very small species that superficially resembles the common 7-Spot. Small size aside, it can be told apart by its more elongated body shape and the concentration of black spots towards the rear of the wing cases.
The first of the ladybirds shown below was beaten from Black Pine in Jesmond Old Cemetery, while the duo in the pot were found within Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
After encountering Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) for the first time a few weeks back, it has been fantastic catch up with further individuals over recent weeks. During a trip to Havannah Nature Reserve with members of the natural history society, three of these beautiful insects were seen, while a visit to Gosforth Nature Reserve produced a surprise when the potted individual below was beaten from Gorse. Albeit near to its favoured Scots Pine.
Striped Ladybird featured in a recent video I produced for the North East Ladybird Spot. Please do take a look below, if you can look past my nervous, flailing hands…
Despite (apparently) being reasonable common, Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata) is a species I have struggled to catch up with this winter. To date, checking the trunks and branches of larch has drawn a blank, as have gravestones in conifer rich cemeteries. You can imagine my delight then when the ladybird shown below was beaten from the tip of a wind-blown Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) as Gosforth Nature Reserve.
Despite appearing somewhat drab, this small, brown ladybird with its distinctive black central line is actually rather pretty when viewed up close.
Back to Benton Cemetery now and while searching the ranks of Harlequin and Orange Ladybirds, it was a delight to encounter my first Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) of the year. Britain’s largest species, this ladybird sports distinctive white rings around its many black spots. A feature which, as its name suggests, gives the appearance of having eyes atop its wing cases. A conifer specialist, I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered this species to date.
Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
Finally, we come to a North East ladybird that I am beginning to think is not all too scarce at all, rather tricky to see and highly under-recorded. Hiding out in the stems of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) and other marginal plants in winter, the Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) seems to be cropping up at more and more local sites as naturalists begin purposefully looking for it.
The individuals spotted below were seen at Gosforth Nature Reserve, but others were also encountered at Havannah Nature Reserve and Rising Sun Country Park.
Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata)
And there we have it, a quick tour of some ladybird highlights from the last few weeks. I will be continuing the Ladybird Yearlist throughout 2022 which thanks to the additions of Larch and Eyed Ladybirds now stands at a reasonable 17 species. Truthfully, I am not sure how many more are out there to be discovered but I at least stand a chance of encountering 11-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybird before year’s end, while 14-Spot is all but guaranteed if I find the time to poke about some grassland.
Setting my sights a little higher, I will also be visiting suitable sites in search of the slightly more elusive 5-Spot Ladybird; while the predominately Southern 16-Spot Ladybird cannot be out of the question while walking in grassland come summer…
Continuing this year’s Ladybird Year List and capturing records for the North East Ladybird Spot, the last few weekends have been spent admiring winter ladybirds conifers. Scots Pine, Larch, exotic Lodgepole and Black Pines, even the odd spruce.
Havannah Nature Reserve near Dinnington first and few visits to explore the site’s conifers turned up a good number of Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus qadripustulatus), with eight spotted on our first visit and six on our second. While the majority were found, rather fittingly, on pine, we also found a few overwintering on Gorse for the first time.
It was nice too to encounter the guttatopunctata form of 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) hiding out in a branch tip.
Pine Ladybird (Exochomus qadripustulatus)Pine Ladybird (Exochomus qadripustulatus)10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata)
Confessing an ulterior motive for our trip to Havannah, a spot of tree-tapping focused on more mature conifers produced not one but two Striped Ladybirds (Myzia oblongoguttata), an entirely new species for me!
Somewhat of a goldilocks ladybird, this species has a close association with Scots Pine but is seldom found on younger trees. Supposedly, these striking little insects overwinter at ground level so what they were doing on exposed branches in February, I don’t know.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Fast forward a week and on our second visit to Havannah, we managed to find a total of three Striped Ladybirds, with one in particular (shown in the video below) clearly energised by the sunny conditions.
Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata)
Whilst at Havannah, it would have been rude not to survey some of the Gorse on-site for ladybirds too and, after fifteen minutes, we were rewarded with the beauty below, an Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata).
I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen this fairly elusive species, finding them previously only at Newcastle Great Park and Silverlink. With a distinctive pattern of white and black on the pronotum and spots concentrated towards the rear of the wing cases, they are rather lovely.
Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
A few more highlights from the last couple of weeks and a quick visit to Iris Brickfield Park in Heaton turned up another new species for me in the form of this Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa). One of the tiny, inconspicuous ladybirds, this species has a close association with wetland habitats where is commonly encountered on reeds, rushes and similar plants. You can imagine my surprise then to knock this one out of a pine tree while searching for its larger cousins!
Also in Iris Brickfield Park, a few stands of Stinking Iris provided a nice opportunity to look for some overwintering grassland ladybirds. Shaking the plants over a net, I was pleased to find four 22-Spot Ladybirds (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata), a species I have only ever encountered in summer, usually on the mildewy leaves of Hogweed or Knapweed. I do love these vibrant little ladybirds.
22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
Slightly further back in time now and a flying visit to Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside turned up my first Kidney-Spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus) of the year sheltering in the upper branches of a wind-blown pine. Again, not a species I encounter very often at all!
Kidney-spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus)
Finally, at all of the sites listed above, by far the most numerous ladybird species was (as ever) the 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata). Little needs said about this one…
7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
Finds over the past few weeks have taken the ladybird year list to a total of thirteen species. Not bad for late February in North East England! Whilst there are certainly a few more ‘easy’ species to be found as we move into spring – 14-Spot, 24-Spot and the inconspicuous Rhyzobius litura – I am very much hoping to catch up with a few more elusive species too. Larch Ladybird should be found, with a little luck, as should Eyed and 11-Spot Ladybirds, at the very least…
