Ladybirds - Coccinellidae

paul m · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 09:53 AM

Some people may be surprised that I've been on this forum for quite a while and never mentioned ladybirds ...

... that's all coming to an end now!

They're a very interesting family of beetles and quite easy to study. Gilles San Martin has opened a Flickr gallery Collection: Ladybirds illustrating many species, their life cycles, biology, ecology and how to find them!
Well worth a look or for reference ....

goosey · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 12:11 PM

Oh, what a brilliant reference! The photo's are amazing, I love the detail of Anatis ocellata spines. The hatchling images are so clear. I spent days in the summer waiting for ladybird eggs to hatch and watched as the yellow eggs changed colour and the final hatching of what looked like tiny spiders - even on the macro setting of the camera. Seeing them in Gilles images is remarkable.
The only disaapointment was seeing those which were on pins - I hope they were already dead. You see them and other insects like that in old Victorian collections - does it still go on?
Otherwise I am so impressed - great find!

paul m · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 02:33 PM

Well, collection of specimens does go on in judicious amounts. For several reasons: some insects are impossible to identify for sure unless they're under a microscope and/or dissected. Similarly, if a new species or some such is found then it needs deep examination and description (to form a reference collection so that other people can learn to recognise it).

Fortunately, 99.99% of ladybirds can be identified without killing - and, generally, with the advances of digital photography it is much easier to record insects and provide evidence for verification.

For interest, the common means of killing beetles nowadays is to drop them into the freezer - this is, after all, how most of them die naturally. (I've been listening to the weather forecasts of snow blowing from Siberia!)

PS: most of the pinned specimens are rare species and undoubtedly were collected some time ago: I note, for instance, the 13-spot, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata which is not common in Europe - it has been seen twice in the UK in the last hundred years!

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

Oh, what a brilliant reference! The photo's are amazing, I love the detail of Anatis ocellata spines. The hatchling images are so clear. I spent days in the summer waiting for ladybird eggs to hatch and watched as the yellow eggs changed colour and the final hatching of what looked like tiny spiders - even on the macro setting of the camera. Seeing them in Gilles images is remarkable.
The only disaapointment was seeing those which were on pins - I hope they were already dead. You see them and other insects like that in old Victorian collections - does it still go on?
Otherwise I am so impressed - great find!

goosey · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 10:03 AM

Talking of ladybirds, last winter there were quite a few 7 spots over-wintering in ecinacea seedheads and under fallen leaves that I had left in a sheltered pile. I saw the first active on 3rd February, two of them. On the whole there were less ladybirds during the spring and summer. 22 spots must have been the most numerous.
This winter I haven't seen any over wintering in the garden, I hope it won't be another bad year.

paul m · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 03:18 PM

Yes, they tend to wake up when the sun shines on them and then go back to slepp again. Can be very dangerous for them if they move away from their shelters and are overtaken by a sudden frost.

Mind, Majerus thinks that the orange ladybird can predict what the winter weather will be like .....

Evolution - April 1999: Peppered moths...NOT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

Talking of ladybirds, last winter there were quite a few 7 spots over-wintering in ecinacea seedheads and under fallen leaves that I had left in a sheltered pile. I saw the first active on 3rd February, two of them. On the whole there were less ladybirds during the spring and summer. 22 spots must have been the most numerous.
This winter I haven't seen any over wintering in the garden, I hope it won't be another bad year.

Guy F · #6 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 09:45 PM

Some very good, and interesting shots there. Are they all British species or are there some European ladybirds in there as well? There are some there which I don't think I'd recognise as a Ladybird if I saw them, Cynegetis impunctata is one of them.

This year as I had the new camera I started paying more attention to Ladybirds (and most other insects) in the garden and I saw quite a few new species. Pine, 14-spot and Heather (id'd on WAB by you Paul) were all new for me. Also the moth trap attracted a Cream Spot and an Orange Ladybird, it's interesting to see what other insects are attracted to the light, assuming that's why they were there

Guy

paul m · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2008, 09:28 AM

No, the immaculate ladybird, Cynegetis impunctata has not yet been found in UK although there's no obvious reason that it shouldn't be: it's found around Calais! People have sometimes thought they've found it but it always turns out to be the spotless form of the 24-spot, Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata.

There are some other ladybirds which are quite common in NW Europe but have never made it across the Channel/Manche.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy F

Some very good, and interesting shots there. Are they all British species or are there some European ladybirds in there as well? There are some there which I don't think I'd recognise as a Ladybird if I saw them, Cynegetis impunctata is one of them.

This year as I had the new camera I started paying more attention to Ladybirds (and most other insects) in the garden and I saw quite a few new species. Pine, 14-spot and Heather (id'd on WAB by you Paul) were all new for me. Also the moth trap attracted a Cream Spot and an Orange Ladybird, it's interesting to see what other insects are attracted to the light, assuming that's why they were there

Guy

paul m · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 10:19 AM

I'll be loading a few ladybird pictures - they're one of the most photogenic of insect families!

By and large these will all be European. I'd love to see pictures of ladybirds from elsewhere in the world.
This was Europe's largest, the pine ladybird Anatis ocellata:

H Dogg · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul m

I'll be loading a few ladybird pictures - they're one of the most photogenic of insect families!

By and large these will all be European. I'd love to see pictures of ladybirds from elsewhere in the world.
This was Europe's largest, the pine ladybird Anatis ocellata:

I know the latin name is right for your picture but Anatis ocellata is usually referred to as the eyed ladybird. Exochomus quadripustulatus is usually referred to as the pine ladybird, Although both are commonly found on pine tree's.

paul m · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 01:51 PM

You are absolutely right

Obviously my mind was on the tree! I shall amend that immediately. Thanks! Ah, don't need to - I got it right on the picture!

Actually, the pine ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus, as was, is seldom seen on pines in my experience!

Quote:

Originally Posted by H Dogg

I know the latin name is right for your picture but Anatis ocellata is usually referred to as the eyed ladybird. Exochomus quadripustulatus is usually referred to as the pine ladybird, Although both are commonly found on pine tree's.