Harlequin Ladybird red with black spots "succinea" form
The "succinea" form includes those with few or no spots . . .
. . . and orange as well as red backgrounds. The "pronotum" pattern also varies.
The black background Harlequins have orange or red markings (above right: markings still developing).
The pronotum is black with white spots (false "eyes") at the sides.
There are two black forms, one with 4 red blotches (spectabilis) and one with 2 red marks
(conspicua) . Again these are very variable.
This Harlequin carried its prey around while being measured. It came in at 6mm long. Many of the black
variety are smaller - mimicking the smaller black Two-spot (4-5mm) and Pine (3-4mm) ladybirds, while many of the red mimic
the larger 7-spot (6-8mm) and reach 7-9mm long.