Lady Bird 7- Spot (Coccinella 7-punctata )

 

 

The ladybird's bright colours are a warning to predators of its foul taste. When disturbed the ladybird will secrete small amounts of its oily foul-smelling yellow blood from its legs as a further warning to predators such as ants or birds.

Habitat

They inhabit gardens, woodland, hedgerows and meadows.

Behaviour

Ladybirds will hibernate in large groups in sites which are used year after year. It is thought that pheromones are released by hibernating ladybirds which attract other ladybirds to hibernate in the same place. Ladybirds can be seen piled on top of one another while hibernating, the advantage of this is perhaps that less heat is lost, increasing their chances of surviving the cold of winter.