Eyed ladybird

When I first saw this ladybird I thought it might be a harlequin ladybird* because of its size.  However, it turns out to be an eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata), our largest native species.  It is about 8mm long and has characteristic yellow-orange haloes around its black spots.  It lives on pines, birches and poplars and eats mainly pine aphids.

* The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is a non-native invasive species which arrived in the uK in 2004 and which is a threat to our native ladybirds.