Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
The 'seven spots' were historically said to symbolize the seven joys and seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary.
- Scientific name
- Coccinella septempunctata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Coccinellidae › Coccinella
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Meadows, gardens, agricultural fields, and temperate forests.
- Diet
- Primarily aphids and scale insects; occasionally consumes pollen and nectar.
- Range
- Europe, North America, Asia, North Africa
- Size
- 7-10 mm in length
- Lifespan
- 1-2 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread pesticide use, habitat loss, and competition from the invasive Harlequin ladybird.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and safe to observe closely. If handled, they may release a yellow, bitter-smelling fluid (reflex bleeding) from their leg joints which can stain. Wash hands after handling.
Coccinella septempunctata , the seven-spot ladybird (or, in North America, seven-spotted ladybug or "C-7" ), is the most common ladybird in Europe. Its elytra are of a red colour, but punctuated with three black spots each, with one further spot being spread over the junction of the two, making a total of seven spots, from which the species derives both its common and scientific names (from the Latin septem = "seven" and punctus = "spot").
Photo: Casey H. Richart, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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