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Coccinella septempunctata
It is the most common ladybird in Europe. Its elytra are of a red colour, but punctuated with three black spots each, with one further spot being spread over the junction of the two, making a total of seven spots, from which the species derives both its common and scientific names. Their distinctive spots and attractive colours are meant to make them unappealing to predators. The species can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste. A threatened ladybug may both play dead and secrete the unappetising substance to protect itself. The seven-spot ladybird synthesizes the toxic alkaloids, N-oxide coccinelline and its free base precoccinelline; depending on sex and diet, the spot size and coloration can provide some indication of how toxic the individual bug is to potential predators.
C. septempunctata has a broad ecological range, living almost anywhere there are aphids for it to eat. Both the adults and the larvae are voracious predators of aphids. Spotted in a urban park.
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/200 sec. f/11 ISO Speed Rating: 200. Focal Length: 90.0 mm.
Spotted on Mar 31, 2012
Submitted on Apr 12, 2012
3 Comments
Thanks Emma and Sachin. Although we see the common ladybird very often still its beauty surprise us every time we watch a close up
Lovely,
awesome.