Fourteen-spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata (14-punctata)
As is the case with several ladybirds, you'd be forgiven for not knowing why the Fourteen-spot is so-named.
Many of the spots, often rectangular, are fused, so that it is not clear that there are assumed to be 7 on each wing case.
It has a cream or pale yellow background colour with large black spots and a dark central line between its wings.
There is also a rare form with a black background and yellow/cream spots, caused by fusing of all the dark spots to leave only pale, enclosed spaces.
There is also a rare form with a black background and yellow/cream spots, caused by fusing of all the dark spots to leave only pale, enclosed spaces.
The spots and central line often fuse to form an anchor shape on its back. It is 1-2mm larger and darker than the 16-spot yellow ladybird
that also has a black central line and brown legs.
Common through much of Eurasia, it eats aphids.
A couple
These two stayed coupled together as they walked along the water iris blade . . .
. . . past a distressed bug (probably protecting eggs or young)
. . . and even under the leaf blade.
This one has a deformed wing case
The 14-spot Ladybird larva is black and white
Links:
16-spot Ladybird
22-spot Ladybird