Anatis ocellata (L.)

Eyed ladybird
© Roy Anderson 		Eyed ladybird © Mike Majerus
© Mike Majerus*
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Distribution

Britain:

Common in south-east Britain and parts of Scotland, mainly on pine.

Ireland:

Local according to Johnson & Halbert (1902) though widespread and recorded from six counties.

Ecology

Often found on Sitka spruce but is very local and probably not common enough to act as a useful control on the spruce aphid. 

Variation

Possibly no significant variation in Ireland. In Britain varieties lacking pale halos around the black spots occur.

*Mike Majerus images from UK Ladybird Survey