Seven-spot Ladybug 20D0036716

Seven-spotted Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)

Coccinella septempunctata, the seven-spot ladybird (or, in North America, Seven-spotted Ladybug), is the most common ladybird in Europe. It belongs to the order Coleoptera, family Coccinellidae. Its elytra are of a red colour, but punctuated with three black spots each, with one further spot being spread over the junction of the two, making a total of seven spots, from which the species derives both its common and scientific names (from the Latin septem = "seven" and punctata = "spots").

C. septempunctata has a broad ecological range, living almost anywhere where there are aphids for it to eat. Both the adults and the larvae are voracious predators of aphids, and because of this, C. septempunctata has been repeatedly introduced to North America as a biological control agent to reduce aphid numbers, and is now established in North America and has been subsequently designated the official State insect of six different states (Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee).

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Featured by Julia in her journal: [link] and in her "Lovely Ladies" news article: [link] .

Featured by the lovely Nikki in her "Lady Bug Features" journal: [link] .

Featured by the lovely and talented Simona in her "Ladybug Love" article: [link] .