Tarsi & Tegulae
Section H
This group is for very rounded convex beetles, most found in a moth trap will belong to Coccinelidae, The ladybirds, but there are a few other surprises.
In Theory all 47 of the British ladybirds can be attracted to light, so keep an eye out for any thing interesting.
For further reading I recommend Roy & Browns excellent Field guide to the ladybirds of Great Britain and Ireland which has identification notes on them all.
7 Spot Coccinella septempunctata
One of the larger species of ladybird found in the UK, It's also one of the most common
ID Features
5- 8 mm
& spots
Very little varability
Black legs
Can be separated from the rarer 'Scarce 7 spot ladybird'by the presence of 2 white triangular marks by the base of the second pair of legs
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Eyed Ladybird Anatis ocellata
The UK's largest ladybird
ID Features
7-8.5 mm
Typically 15 spots usually with cream rings, however spots may be missing in some variations
Pronotum with Black'space invader looking' M shape
Black legs
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
ID Features
4.5-6 mm
Orange with typically 16 white spots
Pronotum orange often with 4 yellow spots
Orange legs
H. axyridis, variation succinea
Harlequin- Harmonia axyridis
One of the Large Common species in the UK, highly variable and often numerous.
ID Features
5-8 mm
yellow,orange, red or black
Spots vary significantly
Pronotum white with up to 5 spots (may be fused), may also have an M shaped mark (pictured) or a black trapezium shape in the centre.
Brown legs
It is significantly larger than other variable species (similar size to the 7 spot)
There are some good examples of different variations on Nature spot
18 Spot- Myrrha octodecimguttata
A Maroon ladybird with, typically, 18 cream coloured spots, this can be somewhat variable, but the moustache shaped marking at the base of elytra is a good indicator for this species.
It is a conifer specialist.
ID Features
4-5 mm
Maroon
cream spots (there is also a checkered form)
rounded pronotum with cream markings at edges
Brown/ red legs
J. Gore
Cream Spot- Calvia quattuordecimguttata
ID Features
4-5mm
Maroon/brown
cream spots
Pronotum with cream marks at the side edges
Brown/red legs
A Maroon ladybird with, typically, 14 cream coloured spots. This species. It is a deciduous tree specialist.
A. decempuntata, variation decempunctata. Credit P. Rule
10 Spot- Adalia decempunctata
Probably the most variable Ladybird in Britain, and has caught plenty of people out. It is much smaller than the equally as variable Harlequin ladybird, and has browl legs, which distinguishes it from another variable species, the 2 spot.
I have yet to collate images of the common variations, but for now there is a good selection on Naturespot
ID Features
3.5-4.5 mm
May be Red,Orange or Yellow
Spot patterns can be checkered, in addition to spotted
0-15 spotsal though 10 is typical, these may be black, cream, orange or brown
Pronotum White with 5 spots OR one large dark trapezium bordered by white.
Legs brown
14 Spot- Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
One of my favourites with its distinctive yellow colour and rectangular spots
( that sometimes makes a smiley face).
ID Features
3.5-4.5 mm
Yellow with 14 square spots (sometimes fused)
Pronotum cream with either black spots or a cloud shape (where spots have fused)
Brown legs
Rhyzobius forestieri
A recent addition to the British list (2014) , An Australian species introduced into France & Italy for control of Olive Scale. a very small and easily overlooked species.
ID Features
Approx 3.2 mm
Entirely black and covered in pale hairs
no spots
legs brown
There's a good overview HERE.
Rhyzobius chrysomeloides
ID Features
2.5-3.5 mm
Paleto darkbrown
Variable pattern, but usually a dark horseshoe shape which contains a lighters stripe each side
no spots
tan/dark brown
Long antennae
A very small, yet common species of ladybird covered in a thin layer of downy hairs, it is VERY similar to R. litura. They are split HERE.
An Underside shot with the prosternum in focus is vital for others to reliably identify from R.litura with pictures, although its possible to distinguish with well marked individuals
Taking Photos
The odd ones out
Thes Beetle are not ladybirds (coccinelidae) and simply superfiscially resemble them, for ease of identification I have put them here.
S.French
Endomychus coccineus
ID Features
approx 4- 6mm
Always a deep red
4 black, well defined spots on elytra
black spot in centre of pronotum
brown/black legs
Long antennae
Aptly named the 'False ladybird beetle', this beetle is a fungivore from the family Endomychidae.
Diaperis boleti
ID Features
7-8 mm mm
Black head, pronotum, legs and elytra with 2 rows of orange zigzagged stripes
antennal segments wider than long, gradually expanded
A decent sized beetle from the very variable beetle family Tenebrionidae, usually found on birch polyphore fungus but are attracted to light
Chrysolina americana
Associated with rosemary plants
ID Features
-
Tricoloured metallic blue red and gold
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Clear rows of punctures on the elytra
-
Rounded appearance
-
Threadlike antennae
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6.7-8.1 mm
-
May-June
Looks similiar to the much rarer Chrysolina cerealis, but this lacks the clear rows of punctures on the elytra
Chrysolina banksii
Associated with black whorehound
ID Features
-
8-11mm
-
red head
-
Rounded appearance
-
red antennae and legs
-
dented bronze/golden sheen to dark elyra and pronotum
-
2 Clear ridges either side of pronotum
Looks similiar to Chrysolina staphylea , but this is more maroon in colour, lacks the metallic reflection and is on average smaller (5-8.5 mm) lacks the clear rows of punctures on the elytra.
Chrysolina oricalcia
Associated with Cow parsley
ID Features
-
7-9mm
-
Entirely black with weak blue reflection
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Rounded appearance
-
Shiny pronotum with clear ridges along the edges
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Pronotum broadest at base
-
Clear rows of punctures, with a shorter line of punctures close to where the wingcases meet
Common and widespread wherever there is cow parsley
Paropsisterna semanli
Associated with Eucalyptus plants
A recent Tazmanian introduction from imported Eucalyptus plants
ID Features
-
oval body shape
-
Extremely variable, often metallic colouration
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Males tend to have reddish colouration
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extremely distinctive
-
Often metallic
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7-9mm
7-9mm oval Chrysomelid, Keep an eye out if you or neighbors have Eucalyptus planted. Colour is variable , males seem to be much redder in comparison
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