Ladybirds of Ireland

Ladybirds are beetles belonging to the Family Coccinellidae
The Coccinellidae are found worldwide and an estimated 3500 species have been described
Of these, 46 have been recorded from Britain and Ireland
In Ireland we have reliable records for 27 species
Not all Coccinellidae are ladybirds!
The 27 Irish coccinellids include only 18 ladybirds
Ladybirds are larger and more colourful than other coccinellids and belong to the subfamilies Chilocorinae and Coccinellinae
Of the 18 ladybirds recorded in Ireland 3 have not been seen for a long time or are doubtfully established
The remaining 15 are listed below:

The first two of these have only one record each but are common in Britain and should be in Ireland
The third is an old forest species on the Continent. It has never certainly been established either in Britain or Ireland although there are two old Irish records

Ladybirds of Ireland - dedicated to the study and recording of Irish ladybirdsby Roy Anderson