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THE WILTSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY MAGAZINE 



aggregations of overwintering ladybirds involving 

 hundreds of specimens, sometimes of more than 

 one species, have been reported in habitats such as 

 grass tussocks and under bark, but these are 

 unusual. Most spend the winter either in small 

 groups or as individuals. Interestingly, the favoured 

 overwintering sites of half the British ladybirds still 

 remain to be discovered, including those of our two 

 largest species, the eyed ladybird and the striped 

 ladybird, both of which live on conifers. 



It is well known that ladybirds feed on aphids 

 but this is not the case for all species several of which 

 are not carnivorous. The twenty four spot feeds 

 exclusively on leaves and the sixteen spot, twenty 

 two spot and orange ladybirds on mildews. 

 Furthermore, many ladybirds will eat a wide range 

 of other foods when aphids are not available 

 including red meat, other insects, and even pollen 

 and nectar, although these diets affect their ability 

 to reproduce. 



Ladybirds are to be found in most terrestrial 

 situations though some species are very specific in 

 their habitat choice. The preference of the eyed and 

 the striped ladybirds for conifers has already been 

 mentioned, and this is also the favoured habitat for 

 the pine, larch, cream-streaked and eighteen spot 

 ladybirds. The water ladybird, as its name suggests, 

 lives exclusively in wetland sites, and the equally 

 specific requirements of the heather, scarce seven 

 spot and five spot ladybirds are detailed below. As 

 far as national distribution patterns are concerned 

 the majority of ladybirds are widespread in the 

 south and become rarer the further north one 

 travels. Within Wiltshire, the paucity of records for 

 some species undoubtedly reflects these habitat 

 requirements, and more focussed recording in the 

 future will certainly increase site numbers. 



A word is necessary about variation in numbers 

 of spots and colour patterns, which in some species 

 is very extensive and can make identification 

 difficult. The two and ten spot ladybirds, for 

 example, include many varieties from almost black 

 to almost yellow, whereas the seven spot varies 

 hardly at all. A two-year study of the Adonis 

 ladybird, which normally has either seven or nine 

 spots, recorded numbers ranging from three to 

 fifteen. Those who are interested are recommended 

 to study the volumes mentioned, which discuss 

 variation in detail and include many illustrations. I 

 have sometimes heard it said that numbers of spots 

 are an indication of age but this is not the case. 

 Like all beetles, ladybirds remain the same size and 

 colour throughout most of their adult lives. 



THE RECORDS 



Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata (L.). Twenty four 

 spot ladybird. 



Boscombe Down (SR, 14 May 1992; 23 Jun 1993); 

 Chickengrove Bottom (PM., Apr 1992; MD., 17 Jul 

 1995); Compton Wood (SR, 21 Apr 1993); Dinton (SR, 

 28 Apr 1993); Manwood Copse (SR, 28 Apr 1990); 

 Marlborough area (Anon 1939. Three specimens appear 

 over this name in the College collection, none with data); 

 Martin Down NNR (RB., 21 Aug. 1989); Middleton 

 Down (PM., 26 May 1992; 8 May 1995); Oysters 

 Coppice (SR, 18 Apr 1993); Wardour (MD., 5 Jun 1996). 



Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.). Heather ladybird. 

 Marlborough area (Anon., 1939. A single specimen 

 without data appears over this name in the College 

 collection but may not be the specimen referred to. See 



below). 



Chilocorus renipustulaws (Rossi). Kidney spot ladybird. 

 Bentley Wood (PM., 18 Mar 1990; 29 Jul 1990); Clouts 

 Wood (PM., 29 Dec 1989); Compton Wood (SR, 28 Apr 

 1991); Dinton (SR, 1989-1993); Great Ridge Wood 

 (MD., 14 Jun 1996); Green Lane Wood (WANHS 

 members, 7 Jun 1995); Gurston Down, Broadchalke 

 (MD., 13 Aug 1995); Langley Wood and Homerton's 

 Copse (DN., 1974 - 1986); Little Durnford Down (PM., 

 19 Jul 1990; 25 Mar 1991); Marlborough area (Anon 

 1939. Two in College collection without data); Morgan's 

 Hill (PM., 28 Mar 1996); Vernditch Chase (SR, 5 Jun 

 1990). 



Exochomus quadripustulaws (L.). Pine ladybird. 

 Alton Down (SR, 23 May 1993); Bentiey Wood (PM., 

 28 Jun 1990; 13 Mar 1991); Little Durnford Down (PM., 

 25 Mar 1991); Pepperbox Hill SNCI (PM., 9 May 1993). 



Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata (L.). Water ladybird. 

 Charlton-All-Saints (MS., 9 Aug 1995); Dinton (SR, 

 n.d.); Marlborough area (Anon 1939. Three examples in 

 College collection without data). 



Aphidecta obliterata (L.). Larch ladybird. 

 Langley Wood (DN., 1974-1986); Marlborough area 

 (Anon 1939. Six examples in the College collection, one 

 labelled Marlborough 17.7.02). 



Micraspis (Tynhaspis) sedecimpunctata (L-)- Sixteen spot 

 ladybird. 



Bentley Wood (MD, 27 May 1997); Boscombe Down 

 (MD.,9 0ct 1994. SR, 9 and 12 Aug 1991; 16 Jul 1992); 

 Chiselbury Camp (SR, 14 Jun 1992); Cockey Down 

 (PM., 10 Apr 1991); Dinton (SP, 20 May and 29 Jun 

 1991); Fovant Down (SR, Jun 1993); GrovelyWood (SR, 

 6 May 1992); Landford Bog (PM., 18 Jul 1990); 

 Marlborough area (Anon 1939. Three specimens in 



