I don't see myself as a twitcher but this was an opportunity too good to miss. When I heard that a very rare ladybird had been found in a churchyard not far from here I had to take a look. This is Oenopia conglobata, common enough in Southern Europe and North Africa but only the third record ever for the UK. It has no common English name but its German common name translates as Poplar Ladybird.
The first UK record was in 2014 at Flamborough Head, a place for seeing rare vagrant birds and dragonflies, so that one may well have flown over from Europe. The second record was in Stirlingshire in 2021, found in a kitchen and presumably brought in on imported plant material. This latest find has obviously been here for some time as it was hibernating on a gravestone. There are supermarkets and garden centres nearby so the most likely route in would have been on imported plants.
Oenopia conglobata is listed in the back of Helen Roy's book amongst "potential new species". I went round the churchyard and had a very careful look at all the Harlequin Ladybirds but couldn't see another Oenopia conglobata. It would be nice to think this very attractive pink ladybird will eventually join our list of native species.
You don't see stuff as rare as that very often!
ReplyDeleteFabulous post Chris !
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