Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.)

Orange ladybird
© Roy Anderson
Cluster of Orange ladybirds
© Roy Anderson

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Distribution

Britain:

Widespead, locally common.

Ireland:

Widespread but rarely in numbers.  Recorded from 12 counties by Johnson & Halbert (1902).

Ecology

Another tree species but rather than aphids, said to feed on sooty moulds (Majerus & Kearns 1987).  Observations of two generations present on a birch tree in Belfast in 2005, suggest such assumptions about diet may be too restrictive.  No sooty moulds could be detected on the birch but larval development appeared normal.  Larvae taken from the tree were fed separately on aphids present in abundance on the tree and appeared to feed and grow normally.

Variation

Subject to little variation in our area.