NATURE TABLE: The Ladybird

Ladybirds are beetles and 19 species have been recorded here. However, most of these species are uncommon or rare.

They are so rare that some have only been recorded once, and that over a century ago.

There’s also the harlequin ladybird, an east Asian species that has been spreading rapidly round the world and has become a pest in some countries. There are only a few records from Ireland so far but it has the potential to become invasive.

The commonest species in this country is the seven-spot ladybird which is red with seven black spots. The number of spots is the key to identifying ladybird species and is reflected in the English and scientific names, the seven spot is Coccinella 7-punctata.

Most Irish ladybirds are red or orange with black spots and most are predators on aphids or other garden pests.

However, there are exceptions. Some are yellow with black spots and some are variable in colour. There are also some species that feed on mildew or eat leaves.