7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata

Although Harlequin is now giving it a run for its money, 7-spot Ladybird is, or at least used to be, by far our most familiar ladybird.

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Cromer (Norfolk, UK), 19th March 2011

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 23rd May 2023

This very dark individual seems unusual - I don't recall seeing one like it before. I assume it's a form of melanism?

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 20th June 2020

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata larva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 25th May 2020

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata larva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 27th May 2020

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata larva and 2 pupae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 3rd June 2020

3x 7-spot Ladybirds Coccinella septempunctata, St Mary's churchyard, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 14th March 2022

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 23rd August 2024

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata larva, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 20th May 2022

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata larva, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 26th May 2022

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 25th March 2022

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 28th May 2018

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 2nd July 2018

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, St Mary's churchyard, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 17th September 2021

These groups of ladybirds were hiding inside a leaf roll which I had to unfurl to see them. Not sure if they were hibernating (early?) or just sheltering/roosting but there wasn't any obvious sign of feeding going on.

7-spot Ladybirds Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 22nd September 2020

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Bittering (Norfolk, UK), 5th April 2015

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, St Mary's churchyard, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 26th February 2022

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Lolly Moor (Norfolk, UK), 22nd May 2016

I thought it was pretty cool to get adult, larva and pupa all in the same photo but then I realised that the larva was actually a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis.

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata adult and pupa (with Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis larva), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 20th June 2020

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 20th August 2021

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Buxton Heath (Norfolk, UK), 13th August 2011

7-spot Ladybirds Coccinella septempunctata, Church Meadows, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 20th June 2022

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 13th November 2021

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 12th April 2004

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 20th July 2023

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 28th July 2018

7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, between Broom Green and Ryburgh Road, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 11th February 2022