Can you help find, survey and record these elusive North East ladybirds?
It’s official, you have now shared over 10,000 records as part of the North East Ladybird Spot so far – what truly amazing work! Thanks to you, we now know more than ever before about the distribution of ladybird species in our region and are one step closer to producing the first ever atlas of North East ladybirds. But it’s not over yet…
If one thing is apparent from your ladybird sightings, it is that certain species are harder to find than others. While certain species such as the 7-spot Ladybird and Pine Ladybird may be found in gardens and parks, others appear far more restricted. Whether this is due to genuine rarity, habitat preference or simply under-recording remains to be seen but one thing is clear – we need your help to find out where exactly they are.
The six ladybird species featured below represent some of the scarcest species noted as part of the Ladybird Spot so far. In all cases, we know relatively little about their distribution in the North East but thanks to wealth of information available elsewhere, we at least know where they *should* be. As 2025 draws closer, we need your help to find and record these charismatic (well, in some cases!) insects across our region. You can help by sharing your records, embarking on surveys and joining a host of NHSN ladybird events in the New Year.
Rare and Scarce Ladybirds
Hieroglyphic Ladybird
Of the large and colourful ladybirds to inhabit our region, this is perhaps the most elusive. This species has dull rusty-orange wing cases adorned with several black dashes and spots, said to resemble an Egyptian hieroglyphs. Other forms, including a pure black variant, are also known to exist but are uncommon.
Where to find it?
The Hieroglyphic Ladybird is very much an upland species and is often found in close association with Heather. It inhabits bogs, heathland, heathy scrub and marginal areas usually sporting wet patches where its favourite prey species, the Heather Leaf Beetle, can be found in abundance. It is perhaps best looked for by inspecting shrubs and Heather stands, or by searching overwintering sites in Gorse and nearby evergreen trees.
Where has it been seen?
So far, only 7 records of this eye-catching species have been shared as part of the Ladybird Spot. These are scattered but fall roughly into two distinct habitats: upland moors and coastal grasslands. In it’s typical habitat, it has been recorded from Harwood Forest in Northumberland and the North Pennines National Landscape while on the coast, it has been observed at surprising sites such as Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and the Durham Heritage Coast. Whether these coastal records represent resident populations, or stem from ladybirds straying from the uplands remains to be seen.
11-Spot ladybird
Quite a scarce ladybird across the UK, the 11-spot is a striking species with red wing cases and 7-11 black spots. It is smaller and spottier than the familiar 7-spot Ladybird and is perhaps most easily confused with the Adonis Ladybird. However, it differs from this species in having an almost entirely black pronotum (the bit behind the head) with two white eyespots.
Where to find it?
This is a predominately coastal species where it habitats sand dunes, coastal grassland and occasionally, strandline habitats. Here, it may be found out and about on low vegetation or, as local records suggest, overwintering within stands of Gorse or other evergreen shrubs. It is also known from heathland habitats.
Where has it been seen?
Of the 10 records shared so far, all bar one are coastal in nature with scattered sightings from Alnmouth in the north to RSPB Saltholme in the south of the area. A single record from Thropton, near Rothbury, represents its only occurrence so far in our region’s uplands.
Spotted Marsh Ladybird
One of the tiny ‘inconspicuous’ ladybirds, this attractive species is a rufous-red colour with a distinctive pattern of dark spots. Two angled black markings towards the head fuse to form a distinctive dark triangle.
Where to find it?
This is a wetland ladybird found in other parts of the UK in all manner of damp, marshy habitats. It favours marshland, where it can be found among stands of Bulrush, Common Reed and other wetland plants, as well as along the margins of streams, ponds and larger water bodies. It is best looked for by visually searching marginal vegetation or by sweep netting.
Where has it been seen?
This species may be genuinely rare in the North East with Northumberland representing the northern extent of its range in the UK. To date, it has been recorded just once from pond margins at NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve but ought to be more widespread, particularly in Tyneside and County Durham. Owing to its small size, it is possible it has simply been missed at other sites in the near area.
Heather Ladybird
This is a small, black ladybird superficially similar in appearance to the Kidney-Spot and Pine Ladybirds within whom it shares its family. It is best identified by the horizontal line of red spots running across the centre of the wing cases which are often fused to some degree giving a banded appearance.
Where to find it?
As its name suggests, this species is most commonly associated with Heather and is known to favour older, woody plants in heathland settings. Here, it may also be found on other plants including Scot’s Pine and Bracken. Despite its name, however, the is also found more widely in urban and woodlands settings where it shows a preference for willow and cultivated Leyland Cypress.
Where has it been seen?
As you might expect, most of the 26 records to date come from upland settings with clusters around Rothbury in Northumberland and parts of the North Pennines National Landscape. Given the copious amounts of moorland in our area, it ought to be more widespread and should be looked for anywhere rich in Heather. The species has also be recorded from Havannah Nature Reserve in Tyneside and a handful of urban cemeteries so may in fact turn up almost anywhere.
24-Spot Ladybird
This is a very small somewhat hairy ladybird with orange-red wing cases and a variable number of black spots. The head and pronotum are orange-red also and the overall hairiness of the species gives is a somewhat dull appearance.
Where to find it?
This species is almost exclusively found in grassland and meadows. Usually, it occurs in ‘rougher’ areas boasting tall, rank grasses such as False Oat-grass and Cock’s-foot and is best looked for by sweep netting tussocks. It is occasionally found in scrubby areas bordering grassland and may occur on other low-growing plants including Salad Burnet, thistles and Mugwort.
Where has it been seen?
Save for a handful of records on the Northumberland coast from Blyth to Hadston, this is very much a species of the Tyne Valley. Here, it has been recorded upwards of 30 times along the Tyne from Walker in the east to Stocksfield further inland. Given the disjointed nature of the records and the abundance of its preferred habitat, it must be more widespread in our area and should be looked for in any area of rank grassland.
Not Recorded… Yet
Oak Scymnus
Another ‘inconspicuous’ ladybird, the Oak Scymnus is widespread across much of the UK but as far as the maps are concerned, appears absent from our area. This is almost certainly not the case. A mostly black species, males of this species have a striking orange ‘face’ while the females are almost entirely black. The distinctive feature across all sexes is the red tip to the rear abdomen.
Where to find it?
Elsewhere in the country, this species is found almost exclusively on Oak, usually by netting the lower branches. Information provided by records elsewhere suggests that it is most easily encountered on isolated oaks, often in woodland edge habitats. With a a wealth of oak-rich woodlands in our region, this species must be out there somewhere if any budding entomologists would like to take up the challenge.
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You can help monitor and protect the North East’s ladybirds.
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Join the North East Ladybird Spot today to make a difference for these colourful insects. Taking part is fun, easy, and makes a real difference.
