Although
supposedly a pretty widespread ladybird in
Nottinghamshire, 18-spot Ladybird was an unexpected find for Dilys and
myself at Haywood Oaks on August 15th 2006. A fairly small species and a tree dweller
showing a preference for the tops of Scots Pines. The
background colouration is a rich brown (Cream-spot
Ladybird is darker and slightly larger) but ID can be
clinched by the rounded 'M' mark on the Pronotum.
Our
second record was not to come until April 2010, when we
beat one from a Pine on Budby South Forest, which was the
first Sherwood Forest record in over a century. In August
2013, we beat numbers of this Ladybird from two small
Scot's Pines growing on a council estate near Oak Tree
Heath at Mansfield. Recorded from Budby South Forest again in April
2024. |
