Eyed Ladybird Beetle
Anatis ocellata
The dark spots on its wing cases are surrounded by pale yellow halos, resembling tiny eyes designed to startle potential predators.
- Scientific name
- Anatis ocellata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Coccinellidae › Anatis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Coniferous and mixed woodlands, particularly favoring Scots pine, spruce, and larch trees.
- Diet
- Mainly aphids (especially giant pine aphids), scale insects, and adelgids.
- Range
- Europe, Northern Asia, North America
- Size
- 8 to 9 mm in length, making it one of the largest ladybird species in its range.
- Lifespan
- 1 to 2 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Pesticide use in commercial forestry and loss of mature coniferous forest habitats.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. You can safely observe them at close range on pine needles or tree bark. Avoid rough handling, as they may pinch with their mandibles or release a yellow, bitter-tasting defense fluid (reflex bleeding) that can stain skin. If contact occurs, wash hands with soap and water.
Anatis ocellata , commonly known as the eyed ladybug , is a species of ladybug in the Coccinellidae family. It has black spots on a red background, with each spot surrounded by a yellowish halo. In one color variation, a specimen found in Scotland was reported having the spots fused to form longitudinal lines.
Photo: S. Rae, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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