A Field Guide to Harlequins and Other Common Ladybirds of Britain and Ireland

Helen Boyce has a lifetime of experience photographing and studying British wildlife. She has worked with wildlife groups and conservation organisations, as well as giving lectures and leading educational walks. She has a fresh and inspiring way of approaching and teaching a subject and is naturally driven to share her knowledge and experience in an accessible way that inspires others to learn more about the fascinating natural world of wildflowers, grasses and insects.

Foreword by Helen Roy and Peter Brown

Introduction

The Harlequin ladybird: how and when it arrived

-Where and when to find Harlequin ladybirds

Characteristics of a ladybird

The lifecycle of a ladybird

-Eggs

-Larvae

-Ladybird larvae of Britain and Ireland

--How to recognise a Harlequin larva

-Pupae

--How to recognise a Harlequin pupa

-Adult ladybirds

--The newly emerged adult

--Overwintering

--Spring emergence

Protection, predation and parasites

Food



How to recognise a Harlequin ladybird

1. Introduction to Harlequin colour forms

2. Only Harlequins have two ‘shoulder spots’

3. Harlequins never have white ‘angel wings’

4. Harlequins are 5–8 millimetres long

5. The only black ladybird that has full, round white ‘cheeks’ is the Harlequin

6. The Harlequin’s pronotum is always black and white/cream

7. The Harlequin’s pronotum markings

8. Harlequin spots and patterns

9. Harlequins do not have white spots on their wing cases

10. Harlequin leg colour

11. Harlequin underside colour

12. Harlequins can have tiny rear ‘pinched’ dimples and ridges

13. Harlequins have a lip on the elytra



Key to identifying whether or not a ladybird is a Harlequin

Conspicuous ladybirds of the British Isles

Other Harlequins

How to record your sightings



Glossary

Further reading and references

Photographic credits

Index of non-Harlequin photos