Coming in different shapes and sizes, perhaps the most recognisable and most popular beetle is the ladybird. Known as the gardener’s friend, the ladybird helps stop our prized plants being consumed by feeding on aphids. 

The classic image of the ladybird is the aptly named 7-spot ladybird, donning seven spots dotted across its bright red back. However, there are around 47 species of ladybird in the UK all with a varying patterns and colours.  

Of the 47 or so ladybirds that live in the UK, only around 26 are considered ‘conspicuous ladybirds’. These are the large, colourful ladybirds that can often be spotted on plants.  The other species are smaller, harder to find and harder to identify.

Here are four conspicuous ladybirds to look out for!

The 7-spot ladybird is considered the classic ladybird, found in parks and gardens across the UK. It’s a large ladybird, usually 5-8mm long. It has red wing cases, with three black spots on each side and a seventh spot in the middle. Look out for it on low-growing plants.

This harlequin ladybird is an Asian species that first reached the UK in the early 2000s but is now common across England and Wales. It’s 5-8mm long, but comes in a confusing variety of colours and patterns. One helpful clue is that harlequins usually have reddish-brown legs.

Maybe the most common form has orange/red wing cases with 15-21 black spots. Another common form has black wing cases with four red spots. But more than 100 different colour patterns have been recorded!

The orange ladybird is a distinctive ladybird found across the UK. It’s around 6mm long and orange all over, with 12-16 white spots on its wing cases. It feeds on mildew on leaves and is often seen around sycamore and ash trees.

The eyed ladybird is the UK’s largest ladybird, growing to around 8.5mm. It’s widespread in the UK, but not often seen. It spends much of its time in the canopy of conifer trees, particularly Scots pine, hunting aphids. Its wing cases are dark red, usually with 15 black spots – though spots can vary from zero to 23. The spots usually have pale rings around them.

To find out more about other species of ladybird visit our species finder page.