Seven-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata

The Seven-spot Ladybird, the most well-known ladybird species, is native to most of Europe and is probably still the most common despite the rapid growth of the Harlequin Ladybird in recent years. It is one of the largest ladybirds (6-8mm long). The Seven-spot has been introduced to North America, where it is known as the Seven-spotted Ladybug.

The Ladybird is known as the gardener's friend since it eats garden pests such as aphids. Above left it is chasing its unfortunate prey and above right it has caught it.

Ladybirds are also useful pollinators.

The larva (young stage) of the Seven-spot, like other ladybird larvae, looks like an alien insect but has an even more voracious appetite for garden pests than the adult. The larva has four red spots on its black body.

When it has eaten enough, the larva pupates to turn into the adult ladybird. Seven-spot pupae are variable orange and black, as above; they are attached to a stem or leaf. (Harlequin pupae, also orange and black and variable, have a more bristly discarded skin at the base than the Seven-spot - see Harlequin page.)

The newly-emerged adult ladybird is light yellowy orange with no spots. The spots gradually appear and darken over the next hour or so and the orange darkens to red in the following days.