Ladybird?

[goosey]

I saw this tiny little thing 4mm (I measured it) eating an aphid this evening on the buddleia. I watched as it had the aphid in its mouth - let go then ate some more - this carried on while I was watching. I thought Arp hada collage on here somewhere with something the same or similar but I can't find it, or I dreamed it . Is it a ladybird ? Thanks

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by goosey

I thought Arp hada collage on here somewhere with something the same or similar but I can't find it, or I dreamed it .

Shhhhhhhhttt ... isn't she cute ... sleeping like that

'fraid I don't do the "little ones" (yet), hardly ever find them anyway ... best I can do is "probably a Scymnini". Should stop there really, but while you're at it maybe look around for Rhyzobius, possibly R. chrysomeloides ?? Just a wild guess though (!)

Nice shot btw.
Cheers! Arp

[goosey]

Just that it is a Coccinellidae sp. is good for me and t know I am thinking in the right direction . I have had Scymnini larvae last year in the garden (there was a thread on it Some larvae and pupae) on the same plant so that does look like a hopefull deduction for a subfamily .

[paul m]

[I've replied to this but the message seems to have disappeared - another try. I replied to the picture rather than the mail .....]
The most abundant small, hairy ladybird in NW Europe is Rhyzobius litura. It is really very abundant ; one calculation being that it was about the fourth most abundant coccinellid in UK.

I don't like identifying these small coccinellids from photos but am fairly confident of this ID because of the lengthy antennae - about as long as the forebody is deep.

There are other Rhizobius species - R. chrysomeloides is more abundant in central/eastern Europe (and usually can't be told apart on a picture) and R. lophanthae has been spreading north from the Mediterranean (where it was imported from Australia) - a very few individuals have been found in UK and (e.g.) Paris.

Originally Posted by goosey

Just that it is a Coccinellidae sp. is good for me and t know I am thinking in the right direction . I have had Scymnini larvae last year in the garden (there was a thread on it Some larvae and pupae) on the same plant so that does look like a hopefull deduction for a subfamily .

[goosey]

Thanks Paul, I will have a look at those suggestions when I can later, I might have to revise the Scymnini Larvae ID's then aswell.
It's such an interesting time of year - so much going on in the garden.

[Pudding4brains]

Originally Posted by goosey

I might have to revise the Scymnini Larvae ID's then aswell.

Not sure what you mean here, but the tribe Scymnini includes the genus Rhyzobius ...

As for me, I don't know enough to even say if Rhyzobius sp. is "safe" enough for the beetle, or if maybe some Scymnus or so cannot be exluded for the full 100% ... Paul might still have ideas about that though. But yes, I think it's fair to assume that if this is indeed the only beetles of tribe Scymnini that you find in the garden (or even on that plant) that the larvea you found earlier may very well be the same "species" (if not the very same animal )

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Pudding4brains

Not sure what you mean here, but the tribe Scymnini includes the genus Rhyzobius ...

As for me, I don't know enough to even say if Rhyzobius sp. is "safe" enough for the beetle, or if maybe some Scymnus or so cannot be exluded for the full 100% ... Paul might still have ideas about that though. But yes, I think it's fair to assume that if this is indeed the only beetles of tribe Scymnini that you find in the garden (or even on that plant) that the larvea you found earlier may very well be the same "species" (if not the very same animal )

Sorry Arp - I didn't realise they were the same family until I started looking at references for Rhizobius species .
It would be nice to think it was the same animal as the larva picture wouldn't it!

[paul m]

Originally Posted by goosey

........... I started looking at references for Rhizobius species .

Be aware that Rhizobius is now generally spelled Rhyzobius - a lapse I still make from time to time! Critically, when googling, you'll only find the older references using Rhizobius.