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Project Noah Nature School
Coccinella septempunctata
An adult seven-spot ladybird may reach a body length of 7.6–10.0 mm (0.3–0.4 in). 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.
Hi Ali! Judging by the size of the black dots on the elytra I believe this is C. septempunctata and not C. magnifica. I'm also not sure C. magnifica is found in Iran. It looks like you got yourself a nice camera!
Spotted on Mar 12, 2013
Submitted on Mar 12, 2013
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