Propylea 14-punctata (L.)
14-spot ladybird
 © Roy Anderson |
 © Mike Majerus* |
 Click on all images to enlarge |
Distribution
Britain:
Widespread and common.
Ireland:
Widely distributed and common.
Ecology
Found almost equally on trees as in low herbage. Found in recent surveys on: grassy swards (5); floriferous meadows (6); sycamore foliage (2); birch (6); heather(2); beech(1); oak(1); willow(3); rowan(1). Larvae were recorded from: semi-improved grass (3); floriferous meadows (1); birch(3); heather(2).
Variation
Remarkably invariant. The ground colour ranges from white to deep yellow. Markings on the elytra are invariably angular, square and linked to form a complex pattern.
*Mike Majerus images from UK Ladybird Survey