There are several records of this species for Ireland, the last of which was in Barna, Co. Galway in 1973. It is a medium-sized species with an orange background colour and 12 even white spots. It is broadly similar to the Orange Ladybird, but slightly smaller with 2 fewer spots.
Distribution in Ireland: Only recorded from Cos. Down, Kilkenny and Galway.
Habitat: Little information exists on Irish habitats, but elsewhere in Europe it is a species of deciduous woodlands.
Habits: This is a mycophagous species feeding solely on powdery mildews. It is an arboreal ladybird, spending much of its time in deciduous trees, particularly oaks and Hazel. Irish specimens are suspected to have been vagrant from elsewhere in Europe and it cannot be confirmed whether it was ever established here. Due to its arboreal habits and similarity to the common Orange Ladybird, it has possibly been overlooked and it is not impossible that the species exists as a rare resident. It should be searched for by beating deciduous trees.
