Orange Ladybird

mattharvey1 · Post by **mattharvey1** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:57 am

Not sure I'd seen one of these Orange Ladybird's before - apparently they are becoming more common in the UK.

ChrisR · Post by **ChrisR** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:05 am

The first thought is these days that it's likely to be a Harlequin, that there's so much concern about.
See http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recogni ... nction.htm#
Red-brown legs, like yours, are usually a tell-tale. But looking at a pic online of an indigenous Orange Ladybird Halyzia 16-guttata , this one does indeed have the right features for one of those.

mattharvey1 · Post by **mattharvey1** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:19 am

Hi Chris,

That was my initial thought as well but looked it up after capturing it and it is a different species.
I wonder if the proliferation of Harlequins has meant there is better chance for populations of these crtitters to flourish ??

http://www.britishwildlife.com/gwlpages156-157.pdf

LordV · Post by **LordV** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:50 pm

Good capture- if I remember correctly these one feed on fungus so might not be in such competition with the harlequins.
Brian v.

mattharvey1 · Post by **mattharvey1** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:24 am

Thanks Brian,

Yeah I remember reading that too.
They are also much hardier than a normal ladybird coping with lower temps.
Added you as a contact on Flickr btw

Matt

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 3:23 am

Brian is right, the species being the Orange Ladybird, Halyzia 16-guttata:

http://www.uksafari.com/ladybird16so.htm

http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/ColeopteraC.htm

Harold

Eddy Clerx · Post by **Eddy Clerx** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:03 am

Halyzia sedecimguttata indeed. funny thing with a "plexiglass canopy".
I remember them eating from a waxine candle.

Harold tnx for the link