IOrange 16-Spot Ladybird > Halyzia sedecimguttata
Description: Length approximately 5-6mm. Bright yellow or orange in colour, with a translucent border to the wing casings and pronotum (bit between the head and wing casings). Usually has 16 creamy-white coloured spots, but there can be as few as 14. Head and legs are orange, and the eyes are black.

Food and habitats: The Orange 16-Spot is mycetophagous (fungus eating) and lives on the mildews of various broad-leaved trees, such as Sycamore. Formerly uncommon, it has established itself over the latter part of the 20th century and is now much more readily encountered. It is an unusual ladybird, as it may overwinter as a pupae, unlike most of the other species in the UK.

Similar species: It can be confused with no other species except possibly immature Cream-spot ladybirds.

Return to LadybirdsSPACEReturn to main index