A photographic guide to the ladybird larvae of Nottinghamshire
 
There has to be no doubt, that ladybirds are among our most easily recognised beetles and even those people with little interest in natural history or insects at all, are still able to identify them from a very young age. Because they are so easily recognised by their bright colours and elytral spots, they often conjure up childhood memories of hot Summer days in the garden, park or countryside and so are genuinely loved by both children and adults alike.
......
But their larvae are often seen as frequently as the adult beetles themselves, especially so in the case of both 7-spot and Harlequin Ladybirds, which are two of our commonest species and probably the most well known. Harlequin larvae are usually very easy to find in the late Summer and early Autumn, as they become even more obvious on walls and fences when Aphids (the preferred food source of many of our ladybirds) become short in supply.

At this time, if their growth is still incomplete, they will often turn cannibalistic and eat other ladybird larvae (including their own) and while the Harlequin gets all the bad press for this cannibalistic habit, 7-spot Ladybird larvae will do exactly the same thing in rare instances when Aphid numbers drop through drought or naturally towards the end of Summer.

But not all ladybird larvae are so easily found though and despite many years looking, there are still some larvae of those species typically representative of people's concept of a ladybird, which have always eluded us.

About this guide

This is a simple, general photographic guide dealing only with the larvae of Nottinghamshire's commoner ladybirds, which obviously are those people are more likely to come across.

Remember that all ladybird larvae go through a number of growth stages (called instars) before pupating and eventually emerging as an adult. Their appearance can change through the various instars, but there are usually some key light markings which are present through all stages.

  
......
The larvae of some species can be extremely similar (check 14-spot Ladybird and Cream-spot Ladybird) so compare specimens carefully. Full grown larvae of all species can be identified with a degree of care from good quality photographs.

The length of larval life varies between species and is generally dependent on both food supply and weather conditions at the time. It is rare to get more than one species on the same plant at the same time and some of the species featured, will have to be deliberately looked for.
 
Kidney-spot Ladybird Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba, 1791)

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Widespread and common, although rarely found in any numbers at any site. An arboreal species found in many Nottinghamshire woodlands, but especially open woodland.
......
Larval size: 6.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: June through to July.
......
Host plants: Most often found on smooth-barked trees, with Ash Fraxinus excelsior being a particular favourite and we have recorded larvae on Goat Sallow Salix caprea.
 
Pine Ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: A common species, normally (but not restricted to) found in woodland or heathland areas containing an abundance of Pine Trees, but occurs commonly on Lime trees growing in urban areas. Often common where it occurs.
......
Larval size: 7.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: June and July.
......
Host plants: A range of woody plants and trees, but our own records would suggest Scot's Pine Pinus sylvestris and various Limes Tilia sp are favoured.
 
16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Widespread in grassy areas with an abundance of flowers, largely in the western-half of Nottinghamshire, but doubtless occurs elsewhere.
......
Larval size: 5.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: July and August.
......
Host plants: Low growing plants, including a wide range of grasses and flowers.
 
Striped Ladybird Myzia oblongoguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: An arboreal species which is rare and often difficult to find in Nottinghamshire. Spends much time among the higher branches of Pines and prefers heathland with Pine and commercial forestry plantations.
......
Larval size: 10.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: July to August.
......
Host plants: Our own experience would suggest weak, spindly young Pines, growing under mature Pines.
 
14-spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: One of our commonest species and found widely across Nottinghamshire. Common in gardens.
......
Larval size: 8.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: Late May to early July.
......
Host plants: No preference. Can be found on a wide range of herbaceous plants used.
 
Cream-spot ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Widespread and common over much of Nottinghamshire. Often found in woodlands and other well vegetated sites, but will occur in suburban gardens.
......
Larval size: 6.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: May to June
......
Host plants: Seems to have a preference for Hawthorn, but presumably will occur on other woody shrubs.
 
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Another arboreal species, often favouring Beech but especially Sycamore. Still common in many areas of  Nottinghamshire and there may be some evidence to show it has declined to a degree.
......
Larval size: 5.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: July and August.
......
Host plants: Sycamore is strongly favoured.
 
22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Found commonly across Nottinghamshire, favouring woodland, hedgerows and brownfield sites, where it is found on low vegetation covered in Mildew.
......
Larval size: 6.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: July.
......
Host plants: Occurs on low-growing plants such as Hogweed, Comfrey, that are prone to heavy mildew growth. 
 
Eyed Ladybird Anatis ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Most common in the heathlands and forested areas of Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park areas, becoming  less common in other parts of the county.
......
Larval size: 10.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: June to August.
......
Host plants: Usually Pines, but not confined to these and has been recorded on Beech and Oak.
 
Larch Ladybird Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Certainly one of our less common ladybirds and known only from a few sites. Appears to be less inclined to move into new sites and shows a preference for mature Larches.
......
Larval size: 6.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: May to June
......
Host plants: Larch.
 
Adonis Ladybird Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Sometimes common on sites lying on sandy soils and regularly occurs on brownfield sites. It should be expected to occur on former Colliery spoil heaps and other brownfield sites.
......
Larval size: 5.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: June to July.
......
Host plants: A variety of low growing plants.
 
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: One of our commonest and most familiar ladybirds. Common and ubiquitous throughout the county.
......
Larval size: 12.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: May to August.
......
Host plants: On all vegetation, but not often recorded on trees.
 
11-spot Ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Widespread and certainly not common. As most Nottinghamshire records have come since 2006, it may be slowly increasing and is possibly under-recorded.
......
Larval size: 7.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: July to August.
......
Host plants: Found on a range of low growing plants.
 
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Widespread and generally still quite common across Nottinghamshire. Numbers can vary and like all ladybirds, it is prone to having poor years.
......
Larval size: 8.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: May to July.
......
Host plants: A wide range of herbaceous and woody shrubs and trees.
 
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: A common and rather indiscreet species, with a wide distribution across much of Nottinghamshire. Regularly found in gardens. The adults are incredibly variable.
......
Larval size: 7.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: June to July.
......
Host plants: A wide range of herbaceous and woody shrubs.
 
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Now extremely common, after first appearing here in 2006. Huge numbers can build up during the late Summer and Autumn, along walls and fences in urban areas. It occurs in most types of habitat, showing a preference for Lime and Sycamore.
......
Larval size: 11.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: From June until late September and October.
......
Host plants: Will be found on pretty much any plant hosting Aphids. Nettle and Hogweed are two particularly favoured plants, but trees such as Lime and Sycamore can often hold many hundreds of larvae.
 
Cream-streaked Ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan, 1763) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Largely confined to heathland and areas of commercial forestry in the Sherwood Forest area, where it can be common.
......
Larval size: 10.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: July to August.
......
Host plants: Pines.
 
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) 

 
......
 
......
Nottinghamshire status and distribution: Largely confined to the Trent Valley sites and although it may be under-recorded, it is certainly not a common Ladybird in Nottinghamshire
......
Larval size: 4.0mm
......
Larval occurrence: June to July.
......
Host plants: Grasses and presumably a range of other low growing plants.
 
 
Beetles
Insects
Homepage
Contents