Sometimes we forget that a ladybird is just another beetle....

Alright, ladybirds are amongst the best-known and loved beetles because of their bright colours and infinite variety of pattern. There are 42 British species, although only around half of these are true ladybirds.


The 7-spot (Coccinella 7-punctata) is less variable than most and the 7 spots are rarely fused. The size may vary but is usually 5-8mm.
They are abundant in all kinds of habitat and the ladybird that I see most often in winter.


No surprise then that today as I walked around  Angley Woods  in the winter sunshine there were a fair number to be seen. Always on the lookout for signs of other insects and bugs I failed to spot much today aside from a couple of flies and midges hanging around some of the wetter areas.

The 7-spot (Coccinella 7-punctata)