I started looking out for ladybirds just over two years ago so I am still learning how to find them and recognise them and which colours and patterns are common. Already, however, it is obvious that things have been different this winter. Most species, other than Orange Ladybird, have been present in much lower numbers than usual. The other striking observation is how many have been found with much darker colouration or patterns than usual. Here are a few recent examples, each alongside a common / typical version.
18-spot Ladybird
10-spot Ladybird f. decempunctata
10-spot Ladybird f. decempustulata
Cream-streaked Ladybird
Harlequin Ladybird f. succinea
Cream-spot Ladybird
Ladybirds of many species, especially 10-spot and Harlequin, come in all sorts of colour variations. These, for instance are the variants of 10-spot Ladybird on Christoph Benisch's website, and it doesn't even include my first one above.
And these are his variants of Harlequin Ladybird!
However, it is not just me noticing the unusual dark forms - other people around the country have made similar observations this winter. I haven't yet heard a good explanation for it. I did read somewhere that dark versions might occur if they were cold as pupae but that would be odd as only the occasional one is affected. It will be interesting to see what the next year brings.
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