Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758))
Scientific name: Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Sevenspotted Lady Beetle
Other names: Seven-spot ladybird
French name: Coccinelle à sept points
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Wingspan : 5-8mm
Biotope: Low vegetation.
Geographic area: Palaearctic region.
Observation period : March to October. But also in winter as the imago overwinters hidden under dead leaves, under stones or in any natural cavity.
This small round coleoptera, with short legs, can easily be identified by the seven black spots on red colour. The elytra bear a gutter edge.
The seven black spots are made by 3 spots on each elytron plus one spot on the suture, at the junction of the scutellum. This black spot is located between two small triangular white spots.
The antennae are short and thick.
The red and black colours protect the Lady Beetle by warning off the predators, informing about its very bad taste.
The Lady Beetle is carnivorous and, even at larval state, it devours a great number of aphids.
The larvae are a pale grey colour with 4 orange spots on each side of the abdomen, 2 of them located on the fore part and 2 others located on the median part. There are also orange markings on the first segment of the thorax. Young larvae are generally darker.

Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) - Yvelines, France - October 10th 2004
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Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
This picture is taken using flash. Manual focus is pre-adjusted to the shortest possible distance.
The Lady Beetle is put on a plant, hand-hold at arm's distance.
It is slowly moved closer and the picture is taken when it is focused.


Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) - Yvelines, France - October 10th 2004
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Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
There are many Sevenspotted Lady Beetles in my garden.
They are very useful to avoid the proliferation of aphids.
Next pictures: Lady Beetle eating an aphid, Lady Beetle taking off.


Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) - Yvelines, France - June 23rd 2012
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Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
Larva observed on low growing vegetation in the garden.


Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) - Yvelines, France - June 23rd 2012
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Sevenspotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
Close-up view on my finger before going back eliminating aphids in the garden.

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