Pine Ladybird - 25 October 2024

_{Two photos of the same ladybird}

I was really intrigued by this really dark rounded insect. I had no doubt it was a ladybird but I could only detect the ‘spots’ when taking a close-up photo. From where I saw it initially it was just a shiny black dot.

I did a quick Google Lens search but out of all the varieties that looked slightly similar I thought that perhaps the Pine Ladybird, or Exochomus quadripustulatus, was the most probable option.

My initial reaction seeing that Latin name, exochomus, was that it must be a spelling mistake and that it should be ‘chromus’ as in colour. Apparently it is correct though. I’m still wondering what it means really apart from referring to a small group (genus) of 16 other ladybirds. According to the brief page I found :

Although it is mainly found where Pine grows, it also likes Hawthorn and other deciduous trees, so it may be seen in deciduous and coniferous woodlands. Also found in grassland, heathland, and coastal habitats.

There were some pine trees nearby so I reckon that’s its home. I’d never seen such a dark ladybird before though.

This page was very useful to compare the many different types of ladybirds to help me focus on one type that looked like the photo I took. When I do searches I still like to check what I've found to make sure I'm 'as correct as possible'.

It was a sunny autumn day today so this ladybird was basking in the sun when I saw it but it was very high up and I didn’t want to disturb it so the photos are not that great.

Thank you for reading !