Sixteen-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata
It is hard to know why this tiny ladybird is called the Sixteen-spot. It doesn't seem to have 16 spots and several other ladybirds do
(the Orange Ladybird usually and the Harlequin sometimes).
It has a cream or yellowy-beige background colour with chocolate brown or black spots, a thick, jagged dark line on each side and a
dark central line between its wings. If the jagged bar counts as three fused spots, then the ladybird has 8 or 9 on each wing
(16-18 on the wing cases), but typically a further 4 or 6 on the "pronotum" or thorax cover.
It is far smaller and paler than the 14-spot yellow ladybird that also has a black central line and brown legs.
This little creature was rescued from being a spider's lunch
It is typical size at only 3mm long
It eats pollen, mildew and fungus and usually lives in rough grass.
Poor photo, only included to show fused spots on the pronotum
The usual fused side bar
Easy to miss in the rough grass
Links:
14-spot Ladybird
22-spot Ladybird