Epaulet Ladybird  Rhyzobius chrysomeloides

Other names: Round-keeled Rhyzobius

This is the commonest ladybird in my recording area, occurring in pine trees, Ivy and ornamental evergreen shrubs.

It is also the only species that I can find, almost at will, on any day of the year.

It occurs in every local garden with ornamental shrubs that I have searched.

It can easily be found wintering in Ivy, using a beating tray. A useful project during the quiet months of November-February.

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Identification          Length  2.5-3.5mm

A brown, long-bodied oval species with long antennae.      

Epaulet Ladybird has a reputation for being easily confused with Meadow Ladybird but I consider the majority to be identifiable in the field. 

The ground colour varies from light oak to deep chestnut.

An obvious feature is a pale curved stripe across the top of the wing cases.

This is sometimes reduced to an orange patch on the shoulder areas, resembling epaulets.

In the most distinctive individuals the curved stripe continues as two stripes running either side of the wing case centre line, forming a pair of tramlines.

The outer wing cases typically have a shield shaped area of dark lines surrounding the pale shoulder curve and tramlines.

This usually includes two vertical lines on each wing case, although these can be fused or broken.

The centre rear often has an anchor shaped mark, with a tooth-like projection on each side contrasting with a pale area on the wing case tips.

The pronotum (between the head and wing cases) have straight and nearly parallel sided edges to the rear. 

Wing case pattern

The majority are a dark chestnut ground colour, although some are a paler oak colour and a few are very dark.

A distinctive feature on many individuals is a pale curved mark on each shoulder area, an epaulet, which often combine to form a continuous pale curve.

       A typical specimen: A deep chestnut colour with blackish markings and an orange curved epaulet across the shoulders                                                        Waltham Abbey, North Essex

A paler individual but still showing a faint pale shoulder stripe                                        Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

A light oak colour but pattern still distinctive                                   Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Very pale with faint epaulet stripe                 Thundridge, Hertfordshire

Some have a brighter orange patch, resembling an epaulet, on the outer side of the curved shoulder stripe.

Bright orange epaulets
Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Small dull epaulets
Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

A small number have the orange patches merging and extending over the top part of the wing cases.

Upshire, North Essex

Turnford, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire

Upshire, North Essex

The most distinctive individuals have the pale curved stripe extending down either side of the wing case central line, forming a pair of tramlines.  

This common pattern is very obvious and eye catching and is often the form that attracts an observer when first discovering this species. These are unlike any Meadow Ladybirds and are very easy to identify.

Very distinctive pale central lines diverging slightly
                                                  Upshire, North Essex

Central lines running parallel to each other
                                    Upshire, North Essex

Pale but with distinctive pattern
   Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Nazeing, North Essex

Turnford, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

On some the pale tramlines are broken or irregular.

Tramlines separated from shoulder stripe by dark markings
                                                Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire

   Indistinct broken pattern  Broxbourne, Hertfordshire

Some Epaulet Ladybirds are mostly dark but unlike the darkest Meadow Ladybirds they are not uniformly dark. 

On many there is a ghostly hint of the pale shoulder curve and the pair of tramlines running down either side of the wing case centre line.

The typical dark markings are also usually present, although often obscured.

The dark tooth-like projections often contrast with the pale, often grey, wing case tips.

Dark with pale shoulder patches
     Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Dark with hint of epaulet and central lines pattern
                  Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

The dark markings that overlay the lighter markings follow a general pattern, although they are variable.

There is often an anchor like mark at the centre of the rear wing cases. When viewed in reverse, this can resemble a Norman helmet with an extended nose guard.

There are usually two lines running up each wing case (only one vertical line on Meadow Ladybird).

These can be fused to form a large dark area, with a shield like shape. 

Typical shield shaped dark markings with double outer line
                                                                 Exeter, South Devon

A few Epaulet Ladybirds are paler and lack the complicated shading typical of this species and can look similar to some Meadow Ladybirds.

The pattern of black lines can be reduced but still follows the same basic template.

A well marked individual with classic anchor mark and double row of outer lines.                                      Upshire, North Essex

Anchor shape extended and resembling Norman helmet with nose guard        Exeter, South Devon

Less well marked with broken lines but typical pattern
                                                       Upshire, North Essex

At first glance quite similar to Meadow Ladybird but on closer inspection the faint second inner line is visible with the whole pattern fitting the typical template of Epaulet Ladybird.                               Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Alternatively some have the black markings fused together creating a solidly dark shield shaped area on the rear wing cases.

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

When photographing a suspected Epaulet Ladybird, it is best to get a photograph from above, as this shows the pattern most clearly.

A side on photograph will not show a subtle pattern well, although it will still be useful, as 

other features may be apparent.

Indistinct dark and light markings
 Braunton Burrows, North Devon

The same individual as above, showing hint of the epaulet stripes and tramlines, as well as pale grey wing case tips

Pronotum Shape

The pronotum shape can help in the identification process but is not always diagnostic.

The majority show a strong curve at the corner forming a right angle with a straight edged 

rear section.

The rear section is often nearly parallel sided.

Some are more curved and similar to Meadow Ladybird but most show at least a short straight sided rear section.

Meadow Ladybird usually has a gently curved pronotum, lacking the right angled corner and still curving as it reaches the wing cases.

Very straight sided pronotum

Typical pronotum shape

Antennae Shape

The clubbed antennae are thin, longer than the head width and often held towards the side.

They usually show a distinctive kink at the half way point, resembling a wire coat hanger.

This is the same as Meadow Ladybirds and is typical of ladybirds, so is a good way to rule out look alike beetle species from other family groups.

When disturbed Epaulet Ladybird often sit still with their legs and antennae tucked under the body, so need to be left until they start walking about before this feature can be checked.

Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Mixed Photographs

Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

With 7-spot Ladybird

With Cream-spot Ladybird

With Cream-streaked Ladybird

With 22-spot Ladybird

With 22-spot and Forestier's Ladybirds

Beaten from Ivy alongside Opilo mollis and Pogonocherus hispidus                   Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

On lid of garden wheelie bin   Upshire, North Essex

Variation and Forms

Habitat

Epaulet Ladybird can be found in a wide range of habitats.

It is best searched for using a beating tray (or umbrella).

I have found it by eye on and in garden wheelie bins, containing shrub prunings.

Unlike the slightly scarcer Red-flanked, Ivy and Meadow Ladybirds, I have never found this species by eye on vegetation. It is cryptically coloured and may keep out of sight underneath the vegetation.

Epaulet Ladybird can be found through out the year and is often easy to locate during the winter months, except during frosty, windy or rainy weather.

There is sometimes a drop in numbers in the early spring. April can be the trickiest month to find them, presumably the wintering adults have died off and the next generation has yet to emerge.

Numbers then increase during the summer, with this species becoming abundant in the autumn. July to September can be a very good months to search for Epaulet Ladybirds as they spread into a myriad of available habitats.

Epaulet Ladybirds can be common in pine trees, in small copses or individual trees.

Plantation pine tree  Upshire, North Essex

Garden pine tree  Upshire, North Essex

Small pine tree     Braunton Burrows, North Devon

Pine tree     May Day Farm, The Brecks, West Suffolk

Pine tree     Turnford, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire

Pine copse         Harlow, North Essex

Amongst pine needles           Upshire, North Essex

They can also be common on Ivy in woodland situations.

In the Lee Valley and around the northern edge of Epping Forest they can easily be found in winter by searching Ivy growing on tree trunks.

Sheltered green lane with plenty of Ivy; ideal habitat
                   Puck Lane, Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Ivy.   Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Ivy       Darland Banks, Gillingham, East Kent

Ivy    Turnford, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire

Ivy.  Cornmill Tree Park, Lee Valley, North Essex

Ivy       Roding Valley Meadows, South Essex

Ivy      Roding Valley Meadows, South Essex

Ivy covered building   Hooks Marsh, Lee Valley, North Essex

Ivy covered wall   Harlow, North Essex

In December 2020 I found Epaulet Ladybirds in the Holly understorey in Epping Forest for the first time and then at Hainault Forest CP in 2021.

I have previously found Orange and Forestier's Ladybirds in this habitat.

Holly        Fairmead, Epping Forest, South Essex

Holly        Fairmead, Epping Forest, South Essex

Holly         Hainault Forest CP, South Essex

Yew is another evergreen shrub that can be successfully searched for Epaulet Ladybirds.

Yew            Rushy Mead, Lee Valley, North Essex

Yew        Hainault Forest CP. South Essex

Yew     Ospringe, East Kent

Epaulet Ladybirds can be abundant in gardens, both rural and urban.

They can be found on Ivy covered fences and on a variety of evergreen shrubs, especially Euonymus, Viburnum tinus, Firethorn, Privet and Cotoneaster.

I have also occasionally found them on Oleaster Elaeagnus and Berberis.

Euonymus.      Upshire, North Essex

Euonymus.    Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Euonymus hedge.   Abbey Gardens, Lee Valley, North Essex

Firethorn.  Upshire, North Essex

Oleaster Elaeagnus      Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Privet hedge     Exeter, South Devon

Epaulet Ladybirds can easily be found in garden wheelie bins that have been filled with the prunings from these shrubs.

They can also be found in deciduous shrubs, including Weigela, Dogwood and Guelder-rose.

I have also beaten them from low hanging oak tree branches.

Weigela.   Upshire, North Essex

Guelder-rose.  Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Oak tree     Potkiln Wood, Epping Forest, North Essex

During July 2020 Mark Hows and I were beating either side of a foot path at Fishers Green, Essex and we were finding Epaulet Ladybirds in almost all pieces of vegetation we sampled, including oak trees, thistles, burdock, White Bryony and Black Horehound.

Oak tree      Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

White Bryony   Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Burdock       Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Additional photograph gallery available in Confusing Species Groups chapter (see header at top of page).