Black Ladybird Scymnus nigrinus

Other name: Black Scymnus

This is a surprisingly elusive specialist of pine trees, although I am now seeing it annually in The Brecks.

The first one I saw was found by Mark Hows at Thetford Warren Lodge, The Brecks, West Suffolk.

In 2020 Mark and I found two more in similar habitat, at Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk. Both were beaten from small pine trees in open heathland.

In 2021 Mark found two more at Santon Downham and we also found two more at Thetford Warren Lodge, so these two sites appear to be reliable.

I also found more Black Ladybirds at Thetford Warren in 2022 and 2023.

Small scattered pine trees in areas of heathland seem to be the best habitat to search.

Identification Length 2.0-2.8mm

An all black species. The diagnostic feature is the legs, these are black with only the feet a pale brown. All the similar species have yellow, reddish or brown legs.

This is quite a large species, compared to other all dark species and I nearly overlooked one I found at Santon Downham as a look-alike beetle species.

The all black wing cases have a metallic sheen, which also gives this species a slightly different look.

Photo by Mark Hows

Thetford Warren,The Brecks, West Suffolk

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Photo by Mark Hows

Santon Downham, West Norfolk

Photo by Mark Hows

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Thetford Warren Lodge, The Brecks, West Suffolk

Thetford Warren Lodge, The Brecks, West Suffolk

Thetford Warren Lodge, The Brecks, West Suffolk

Photo by Mark Hows

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Suffolk

Photo by Mark Hows

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

On the underside some show an obvious groove on the metasternum, similar to Schmidt's and Angle-spot Ladybirds. This is not always visible on all photos, so may be a variable feature but more likely to be dependent on lighting conditions to show clearly.

Groove on metasternum clearly visible

Same individual as above, metasternal groove not visible

Very faint hint of metasternal groove

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Photo by Mark Hows

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Photo by Mark Hows

Santon Downham, West Norfolk

With Pine Ladybird

Santon Downham, The Brecks, West Norfolk

Habitat

This is a pine tree specialist, although it is rarely easy to find.

Areas worth searching include the Surrey heathlands, The Brecks and the Caledonian forest of the Scottish Highlands.

The only ones I have seen have all been found in small pine trees in open heathland, near to mature pine trees. Black Ladybird does seem to favour this habitat, but it might also be that they are easier to locate in the smaller trees.

Regular rows of small plantation trees have failed to produce this species, scattered self sown trees seem to be more reliable.

They have also been reported in surrounding patches of gorse in the same habitats.

Since 2020 Mark Hows and I have been finding this species annually at several Breckland sites, often more than one at a time. Thetford Warren, Suffolk and Santon Downham, Norfolk are both now reliable sites.