Seven spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
The most common ladybird found at Garthorne Road Nature Reserve with its black-on-red markings of the 7-spot ladybird are very familiar. Ladybirds are a gardeners best friend as they eat insects that love to nibble on garden plants! You can encourage them into your garden by putting up a bug box.
They are found in gardens, parks anywhere their if their favourite food aphids they hibernate in hollow plant stems, sometimes clustering together in a large group. The red and black colouring warns predators such as birds that they are distasteful, although some birds may still have a go at eating them.
Adult size: They are usually about 6-8mm in length.
Yellow and black longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata)
This beetle is a part of the flower longhorn (Cerambycidae) family and lepturine beetle (Lepturinae) subfamily. They are found in almost all of Europe, attaining their name due to the black and yellow spotted appearance.
Adult Size: 13 – 20 mm (0.51 – 0.79 inches)
All images are copyright @Ernest Thomason
Garthorne Road Nature Reserve 