Pink Ladybird Oenopia conglobata
Other name: Poplar Ladybird
There are three modern records on the iRecord website:
Flambough Head, South-east Yorkshire 4th July 2014
Lennoxland, Stirlingshire 14th October 2020
Ponteland, South Northumberland 12th January 2024
With two records on the east coast, including a well known bird migration site, there is a possibility of natural migration across the North Sea, but equally the records could all be accidently introduced by human activity. More records are likely and could occur anywhere.
In August 2025 David Cousins reported on Bluesky that he had caught one in his Essex moth trap.
Identification Length 3.5-5.0mm
Wing cases usually pink (sometimes buff or orangey-red), with irregular black markings and a distinctive black line along the wing case central line (elytral suture).
The wing case colour is typically pink. The pink colour can be deep and intense or often a pale rose pink.
Can also be buff or yellowish lacking any pink tones.
Occasionally orangey red.
A distinctive feature is a broad black line running the length of the elytral suture (the wing case central line). Sometimes broken but seems to be a fairly consistent feature.
The size and shape of the wing case spots can vary but the large central spots often resemble a pair of music notes, specifically a pair of crochets back to back.
A pair of spots on the outer edge of the wing cases at about two-thirds distance are a distinctive zig zag L-shape.
The pronotum is usually a pale cream colour but can be pink matching the wing case colour, or pale brown. There are seven dark spots, variable in size and shape but with the same typical pattern, a small spot at the rear centre with four larger spots radiating around like a paw print and a small spot on each outer edge
The head pattern is quite consistent. A pale face, often white, usually matching the pronotum background colour, with a black rear, the two separated by a wavy margin.
Legs and antennae pale yellowy-brown
Pale rose pink with typical black markings
Bright pink with fused pronotum spots
Pale buff with reduced black markings
Orangey red with large fused spots and a brown pronotum
A photograph of this species can be found on the German website https://www.kerbtier.de
Habitat
Occurs in deciduous trees, often in mixed forests and often found on poplar and willows.
It has been reported as feeding on the larvae of leaf beetles.
Similar Species
Whilst pink individuals are likely to stand out and be recognised as something different, pale buff or darker orange individuals could be confused with 10-spot or Harlequin Ladybird, both of which are highly variable and can show similar features.
A close examination of the exact spot pattern should make most individuals identifiable.
The only confusion species with pink individuals is Doublier's Ladybird Oenopea doublieri, which has a Meditteranean distribution, so is less likely to occur as a migrant in the UK.
Doublier's shares the pink colour of Pink Ladybird but has thinner black markings and smaller spots. The main central spots resemble a face with a handlebar moustache.
Reported from lowland coniferous forests.
Doublier's Ladybird Minorca, Spain
