Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
This is a fairly common species, which I used to find only occasionally, including in garden wheelie bins, beaten from Ivy, garden shrubs or pines and also attracted to light including my moth trap.
However my number of records increased substantially recently when I discovered that Orange Ladybird overwinters in Holly in deciduous woodland and is easy to locate with a beating tray in this habitat, during Nov-Feb.
There are two other species of Continental white-spotted orange ladybirds that could occur on the mainland, Jersey and 12-spot Ladybirds. It is worth bearing these in mind when recording Orange Ladybirds, especially in unusual locations.
Upshire, Essex
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Epping Forest, Essex
Upshire, Essex
Upshire, Essex
Wintering location in Holly Epping Forest, Essex
Wintering location in Holly Epping Forest, Essex
Species comparisons
Orange Ladybird 4.5-6.0mm
A double row of irregular white spots, running either side of the central line of the wing cases. Ten spots in total, five in each row.
When viewed from the front only six spots are visible.
Yellow markings on the transparent pronotum and head.
Jersey Ladybird 5.0-6.5mm
Four, usually large, oblong spots in the centre of the wing cases forming a rectangle.
White fish-hook markings on pronotum sides similar to Cream-spot Ladybird
12-spot Ladybird 3.0-4.0mm
Six spots across the front and centre of the wing cases form a circle, similar to a buffering internet video.
Cream-spot Ladybird 4.0-5.0mm
A distinctive row of six transverse spots running across the forward third of the wing cases.
This species can be briefly confused with Orange Ladybird, especially in bright sunlight, but is a much darker maroon brown.