First Ladybird

7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
(Click on photo to see larger image)

This is the first ladybird that I have seen this year. It was on the perennial wallflower in my garden. The 7-spot is one of the most common British types, but there are also around 40 other species. All have different striking colour and spot combinations to warn off predators. When disturbed the ladybird will secrete small amounts of its oily foul-smelling yellow blood from its legs as a further warning to predators such as ants or birds. Most species of ladybird are predatory - eating sap-sucking plant pests, particularly aphids such as greenfly and are therefore popular with gardeners.

Unfortunately an alien ladybird has arrived in Britain and is threatening the native species. The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) was first spotted in Britain in 2004 in the South of Englnd and is moving steadily Northwards. There have now been two sightings in Scotland, one in Perthshire and one in Orkney.