David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Beetles 7 - Striped Ladybirds
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
STRIPED
LADYBIRD Myzia
oblongoguttata
·
At
first glance the handsomely marked Striped Ladybird Myzia
oblongoguttata may not quite fit in with the
common perception of ladybirds as it has neither red markings nor black spots.
This is one of the largest British ladybirds and it can be found in coniferous
woodlands where it is most likely to be seen scuttling up and down the branches
of mature Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris trees in search of aphids. These beetles are
usually only to be found in small numbers and they appear to be attracted to
open cones, presumably because these will provide both shelter and food.
- Students of ladybird genetics
will find a great deal to delight them in Michael Majerus' superb 'Ladybirds',
New Naturalist, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 000 219934 3 (hardback); ISBN
000 219935 1 (paperback) which is now out of print and attracting high
prices on the second-hand book market (particularly the hardback which is
highly collectable). Other valuable publications include ‘Field
Guide to the Ladybirds of Great Britain and Ireland’ written by
Helen Roy and Peter Brown and expertly illustrated by Richard Lewington,
Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides, 2018 ISBN 978-1-4729-3568-7 and at a more
parochial level ‘Ladybirds of Surrey’ by Roger Hawkins – out
of print but possibly still available on the second-hand market. The fact
that two of these books do not contain any reference to the Harlequin
Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
illustrates just how recently this invasive beetle became established in
the UK.
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