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This species has the same colour scheme as the 24-spot but is twice the size and with 11 spots (really 12 but two touch medially). These are two of the species in the subfamily Epilachninae, all of which are a bit hairy and are herbivorous. The Bryony Ladybird arrived in the UK about a decade ago, as di the carnivorous Harlequin.
I first came across this species when I found an unfamiliar-looking pupa on my Bryony weed in the garden. It feeds only on Briony. I placed the pupa in a plastic box and it has now hatched, been photographed and released. As is the case with adult ladybirds, the colours are not fully developed when they emerge from the pupa but the colour of this individual was fairly typical for the species.
Images will be posted, in due course, of the larvae and pupae but today we have the adult, which I have yet to see in the open air. No Bryony foliage features in the photos. The pupa had formed on a Crocosmia aka Monbretia. Some handy Bindweed leaves were used for additional background.
Apart from the last one, the images were shot through my Kiron 105mm, the last through my reversed Schneider HM 40 setup.
Harold
© Harold Gough 2015
Hello. We haven't met before.
© Harold Gough 2015
© Harold Gough 2015
© Harold Gough 2015
© Harold Gough 2015
Edited on Jul 29, 2015 at 11:54 AM · View previous versions
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