Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758)[]
Arthropods (Arthropoda)----Insects (Insecta)----Beetles (Coleoptera)-----Polyphaga----Cucujoidea----Ladybirds (Coccinellidae)----Adalia----A. bipunctata
12th April, 2008. The basic patterning of this species known as form typica.
The Two-spotted ladybird is quite small compared to the more common Seven-spotted ladybird , and it is feared that this ladybird will decline greatly just like the Nine-spotted ladybird which has become increasingly rare recently. "Bipunctata" simply means two spots, in Europe this is mostly true, the enlarged spots and barred forms are very rare, however, in North America there are many different forms of this species which are fairly common, most of which have more, or less, than two spots, the basic two-spotted form is known as typica.
Beginners can easily mistake the different forms for different species of ladybirds. One of the most unusual and rarest forms is named "Bunny ears" which the spots on the Elytra have two points out the top, perfectly resembling a rabbit's head (see link).
30th May, 2008.
Another one of the rarest forms is the "netted" form (shown on this link top right; netted form) the last photo in the gallery is possibly a netted or annulata form. Sometimes on occasion you may find a black form (this is more common in Europe than in North America) with 2-6 red spots, this is a melanic form of this ladybird and is rare in most locations. Other rare forms can be found on the Bunny ears link.
17th May, 2008.
I will need to do more research to identify my ladybird larvae, but there are Two-spotted in there somewhere.
