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Seven-spot Ladybird · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Seven-spot Ladybird

Coccinella septempunctata

Not yet photographed by the community

The classic red-and-black ladybird; voracious aphid predator.

Species Profile

Green List; abundant and widespread with no conservation concerns

Lifespan: 1–2 years in the wild, occasionally living through to a second year after hibernation
Size & Weight: 7–8 mm in length; 0.08–0.12 g
Habitat: Gardens, parks, hedgerows, and farmland with abundant aphid populations, particularly on herbaceous plants and shrubs.
UK Distribution: Common throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; resident year-round, though populations are bolstered by migratory individuals from continental Europe in autumn.
Diet: Primarily feeds on aphids, with a single ladybird consuming up to 60 aphids per day during the growing season.
Prey: Aphids (Aphididae), occasionally small soft-bodied insects and pollen
Predators: Ground beetles, robber flies, spiders, and occasionally birds such as robins and blue tits; parasitoid wasps also attack larvae and pupae
Mating Season: April to September, with peak mating in late spring
Breeding: Females lay 200–400 eggs in clusters on host plants; eggs hatch in 3–5 days; larvae develop through four instars over 10–14 days; pupation lasts 5–8 days. Two to three generations per year in the UK.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 22 June 2026

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