Favorite Images of Ladybirds

A list of my favorite images of ladybirds.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladybird

Coccinellidae, commonly known as ladybirds or ladybugs, are a family of beetles.

Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles ranging from 0.8 to 18 mm (0.0315 to 0.708 inches).

They are commonly yellow, orange or red with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, heads and antennae.

However, such colour patterns vary greatly. For example, a minority of species, such as Vibidia duodecimguttata, a twelve-spotted species, have whitish spots on a brown background.

Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 6,000 species described.

Coccinellids are known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in other areas. Entomologists widely prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not classified as true bugs.

The name coccinellids is derived from the Latin word coccineus meaning "scarlet".

The name "ladybird" originated in Britain where the insects became known as "Our Lady's bird" or the Lady beetle. Mary (Our Lady) was often depicted wearing a red cloak in early paintings and the spots of the seven-spot ladybird (the most common in Europe) were said to symbolise her seven joys and seven sorrows.

In the United States, the name was adapted to "ladybug". Common names in other European languages have the same association, for example, the German name Marienkäfer translates to Marybeetle.

The majority of coccinellid species are generally considered useful insects because many species prey on herbivorous homopterans such as aphids or scale insects, which are agricultural pests.

Many coccinellids lay their eggs directly in aphid and scale insect colonies in order to ensure their larvae have an immediate food source.

26 UK ladybird species:
Adonis ladybird
Bryony ladybird
Cream-spot ladybird
Cream-streaked ladybird
Eyed ladybird
Harlequin ladybird
Heather ladybird
Hieroglyphic ladybird
Kidney-spot ladybird
Larch ladybird
Orange ladybird
Pine ladybird
Scarce 7-spot ladybird
Water ladybird
2-spot ladybird
5-spot ladybird
7-spot ladybird
10-spot ladybird
11-spot ladybird
13-spot ladybird
14-spot ladybird
16-spot ladybird
18-spot ladybird
22-spot ladybird
24-spot ladybird