The 7-spot Ladybird is ‘the’ ladybird that everyone is familiar with. A virtually ubiquitous inhabitant of gardens and parks, the 7-spot Ladybird will turn up anywhere there are aphids for it to feed on. Adults hibernate in hollow plant stems and cavities, sometimes clustering together in large numbers. The 7-spot Ladybird is also a migratory species: large numbers fly in from the continent every spring, boosting our native population. The bright colours of ladybirds warn predators that they are distasteful, although some birds may still have a go at eating them.

The 7-spot Ladybird is easily recognised by its red wing cases with a pattern of seven black spots, combined with the familiar black- and white-patterned thorax.

Both larvae and adults feed on aphids which helps their image as a gardener’s friend. They hibernate during winter and can be found in cracks and crevices, often in outbuildings and around window frames. Large numbers often migrate here from the Continent in warm years.