22 Spot Ladybirds
August 24, 2009 by Bird
Filed under Blog, Fauna, In The Garden, Summer, Wild London
About a month ago I was bemoaning the mildewy state of our courgette plants when I noticed a brilliant yellow speck moving about in the foliage. Upon taking a closer look I was happy to find this pair of 22 spot ladybirds taking advantage of the sunny weather by mating vigorously (and for ages!) on the chewed and greying leaves.
It was impossible to get a better photo without disturbing them, but as these ladybirds are tiny – only 3 to 5 mm long, I was pleased to get any picture at all. All ladybirds are welcome in our garden – they are wonderful pest control – but I only found out how pleased I should have been on behalf of our courgettes yesterday when I read this post about ladybirds in Hagbourne Wildlife, which told me that the 22 spot eats mildew! I had no idea that there were any non-carnivorous ladybirds so I did a little bit of research.
Native to Europe, their latin name is Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata, often abbreviated to Psyllobora 22-punctata, and they can reliably be identified from their small size and uniformity of markings. Each wing case has 11 evenly spaced black spots. The pronotum (the section between the head and the abdomen) also has 5 black spots, which don’t seem to have been counted when this insect was given it’s name. You’ll find them on low growing mildewed (mouldy) plants, and a quick scout around wildlife forums also revealed fun informal accounts of them coming into utility rooms or living in house plant pots where the compost has become mouldy.
Alas my yellow spotted friends could do little for the courgettes – even if they bred a 22 spot army the mildew had already well and truly taken hold. I still like to think of their larvae munching bravely away – at least they won’t go hungry.
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It’s been a very moldy summer over here in the US of A, as well. Or as you say over there in England, mouldy. And we don’t have those pretty yellow ladybugs. Or as you say, ladybirds. We do have a terrible fungus called Late Blight, the same one that caused Ireland’s Potato Famine, and it’s killing all our tomatoes. (Sob!) Too bad about your eggplants. Or, as you say, courgettes.
Our common language is a bit of a minefield isn’t it? I hope the Britishness of this post didn’t have too many US readers scratching their heads! Next time I will really stretch your skills and write in Cockney, Lancashire dialect or Scouse… or ‘appen all three, innit like?
Thank you for the translation Jackie, I am now grinning from ear to ear.
Great shot! Thanks for the info, as well.
You’re welcome Lana!
Geesh..send them here will you? It has been very wet hear. Great photos Bird…
Here too I’m afraid… if we want to keep from being knee deep in mildew I don’t think we have any to spare… anyhow, you know how bad an idea importing new species as pest control is
There’s tons of mildew in my garden! It’s a natural hazard when I plant stuff as closely as I like to. I wonder if there are any native mildew-eaters around here? They’d be very handy!
Oh, and I’ve honored your blog with an award.
I have a few new readers, maybe some of them will pop over here for a peek! Thanks,
Kit
Oh you know what Kit, we probably overcrowded our beds like crazy, it’s easy to forget how courgettes spread out when you haven’t done any gardening for a couple of years!
…and thank you so much for the award, I will try and get it on the mantelpiece before I go away – things are madly busy here right now but I do want you to know how much I appreciate it!
Well, never expected ladybug porn on Mellow Yellow! LOLOL! That’s a first! hahaha “vigorously and for ages” good for them
Love the photo – it’s not often you get to capture something like that.
Hahah, I am soooo glad to be the first to introduce this new genre! And yep, they were, um, *coughcough* VERY enthusiastic about the whole deal. I agree, good for them
Beautiful! Lady birds were *big magic* to me in my childhood. I was always mystified by them, and would rescue them from our swimming pool whenever I saw them there. For me they signify good luck. This photo is pretty darn cool!
I think they have a special place in many people’s hearts, right from childhood. I’m glad they are lucky to you, and I guess you are lucky to them too as you must have saved many
I haven’t seen a 22 spot ladybird recently, just the 7 spot variety. They’re literally everywhere. Fortunate really because there were thousands of black aphids in the garden this year.
Amazing pic of those beauties, Bird. I have only seen red, and I think, orange ones. Never yellow. DrowseyMonkey’s “ladybug porn”…hee-hee!