Ladybirds – well I have never seen that before!
I was picking beans recently when I noticed they had Blackfly on them. Not a good sign. Where were the Ladybirds and their young who both love to eat aphids?
Then I happened to glance at a Cotoneaster bush nearby. On a leaf was a Ladybird larvae, and below it one of its brothers or sisters who had already begun to pupate. This is the stage they go through before turning into an adult. Do click on the pictures for a closer look.
Ladybird larvae (above) and one pupating (below)
This pupating stage takes about a week, then the adult slowly emerges.
Adult Ladybird emerging
The wing casings are soft, yellow and unmarked by spots so the Ladybird hides until it develops a hard casing and the appropriate colouration depending on the species.
I'd better get behind this leaf before something sees me!
Now what should I wear?
It decides on a red outfit, trimmed with fashionable black spots – an outfit suitable for all occasions.
Red Ladybird with black spots
There are 42 British species of Ladybird. Surprisingly four of them are vegetarian, eating mildews and microscopic fungi. I’m glad I managed to catch an adult Ladybird emerge as it was a new experience for me.
P.S. Juliet commented below that this might be a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridid) which is not a British native. I’m not an expert but on reflection she may be right. The Harlequin originated in eastern Asia and has spread to much of Europe and North America. They were first sighted in Britain in 2004.
According to the British Harlequin Ladybird Survey Site “Harlequin ladybirds feed most commonly on aphids, but have a wide food range, also feeding on scale insects, adelgids, the eggs and larvae of butterflies and moths, many other small insects, including other ladybirds, pollen, nectar, and sugary fluids, including honeydew and the juice from ripe fruits”.
They are the grey squirrels of the Ladybird world!
12 comments
WOW! Amazing series of photographs! I’m fairly certain I have seen the larvae in my garden, but I had no idea what they were, pretty intimidating facade.
Lzyjo:Yes the larvae look nothing like the adult so I was surprised when I first found out what they were!
What an interesting post!
Barbee: Thank you :-)
Great pics. Just hope it goes away and lays lots of eggs for more ladybirds to eat your aphids. I have never seen a larve pupate before, thanks for sharing.
Judith: Well the blackfly seem to be disappearing!
Fascinating – I’ve never seen an adult emerging before, and I didn’t realise there was a spotless stage between pupa and adult ladybird. Um, I’m not sure that’s a British ladybird though – it looks like a Harlequin to me :-/ But either way, it seems likely it’ll eat your blackfly.
Juliet: I think you might be right about this being a Harlequin!
I love your pictures and explanation. We see lots of ladybugs (as we call them) and their larva but I’ve never seen the yellow wing covers. I’ll be checking beneath leaves for them. Thanks for the info.
Barbara: It was pure luck that I noticed them!
Wow – cool photos- thanks for showing us this – you learn something new every day!! That is wicked..but what about your blackfly problem? I think a bit of match-making is required…
CC: I think the Ladybirds have done their bit as the blackfly have gone!
So interesting to see the different stages of a ladybird’s life! I don’t think I’ve seen the larva too. Would love to come across all the stages as depicted in your photos. So pretty!!
Such patience to see the phases through……. the ladybird does have very nice outfit… a red skirt.
Cheers
~bangchik
What an interesting and informative post and excellent capture of the different stages
I’ve resorted to squishing aphids every 2-3 days! Where are the diners? I’ve never seen lady bug molt before–I’ve got lots of monarch and swallowtail pics, but not this insect!
Talk about being in the right place at the right time and with your camera too ! Absolutely fascinating.
Just discovered your blog, thanks to Tiggerlot. I posted a picture similar to your firstone on 2nd Sep. Small world, we are near Cape Town.
Leave a Comment