A highly variable species which occurs in several forms. The commonest of these forms has a red background colour with two black spots on the elytra. Other forms may have two black smudges or bars instead, or may be predominantly black with four red spots. The key identifying feature is the black legs (other similar species have brown legs), or in the case of black specimens resembling the Pine Ladybird, the absence of the two red ‘comma’ markings.
Distribution in Ireland: Historically a rather scarce species but now seemingly widespread and fairly common, but still more patchy in its occurrence compared to other generalists. It is still scarce in the west and north of the island.
Habitat: Typically found wherever deciduous trees occur. It is generally most numerous in deciduous and mixed woodlands, but it can also be found in parks, gardens, brownfield sites, farmland margins, scrub and grasslands.
Habits: A predatory species which feeds on aphids. Most observations come from deciduous trees such as Sycamore, willows, birches, poplars and apples, although it may appear on a rather wide variety of native and exotic trees and shrubs. It also appears on lower-growing vegetation such as nettles, thistles, Rosebay Willowherb, various umbellifers and others. Overwintering sites include houses and outbuildings, crevices in trees and fences as well as under tree bark and in dense evergreen vegetation, particularly coniferous trees. Beating the branches of deciduous trees is the best method to find this species during spring, summer and autumn however.
