Seven-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Common
- Active during
- Afternoon
- Found in
- Lotsamoss Woods
- Length
- 0.28 in
- Wingspan
- 0.7 in
From the field notes
Diet
These beetles are relentless predators. A single adult can consume over 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, making them an incredibly efficient natural pest control.
Defense
When threatened, they ooze a foul-tasting, toxic yellow fluid from their leg joints. There Their iconic bright red shell acts as a clear visual warning to hungry birds.
Wintering
Thousands of beetles huddle together in tight clusters under rocks or tree bark to stay warm and survive the winter months.
Larvae
Ladybird larvae resemble tiny, spiky, black-and-orange alligators. They pupate before becoming the iconic beetle.
Field Marks
True to their name, they have seven black spots on their red wings: three on each side, and one shared spot split directly down the middle near the head.