Lady.....

You’ll never guess what we have trying to hibernate in the cavity of our window frame.

Go on…guess, I’ll bet you won’t be anywhere close.

Oh alright….I’ll tell you…no actually I’ll show you

Yes it is a bit blurry, but you get the idea

Yes that’s right lots of ladybirds

The Ladybird Survey aims to facilitate the recording of all the UK's ladybirds.
On this website you will find lots of information to help you find and identify species, and online forms so that you can record your observations.
Ladybirds belong to the scientific family Coccinellidae. In Britain, some 46 species belong to this family, although only 26 of these are recognisably ladybirds.
The invasion of the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) threatens our native populations. If you want to know more about this species in particular, or want to record sightings, please have a look at the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website.

What is a ladybird?

Ladybirds are beetles (Order: Coleoptera) and so possess two characteristics that distinguish them from insects of other orders:

1. hard forewings (elytra) that cover the abdomen and meet centrally;
2. biting mouthparts.

The ladybird family within the beetle group is called the Coccinellidae. Coccinellids can be recognised by a number of general features:

• Small to medium sized beetles (1-10 mm or 1/16 - 3/4 inch long)
• Usually round or oval
• Elytra are often brightly coloured and patterned
• Short, clubbed antennae
• Pronotum (structure between the head and the elytra) is broader than long; extends forward at the margins and is often patterned
• Short legs that are retractable under the body
• Feet ( tarsi ) that have four segments but the third is so small that only three are easily visible