Forestier's Ladybird    Rhyzobius forestieri

Identification      Length  3.2mm

A large species, not much smaller than 22-spot Ladybird.

Black, with a covering of patchy white hairs, giving it a silvery hue.

The clubbed antennae are as long as the head width, with a characteristic bend midway resembling a metal coat hanger. 

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

With 22-spot Ladybird

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

A very distinctive feature is the red rear end on the underside.

This contrasts with the dark front sections.

In bright sunlight it appears a bright orangey red but in dull conditions it appears browner and duller. In all lighting conditions the underside of this species resembles a glowing ember.

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

The red rear end can sometimes be seen from above, protruding beyond the rear of the wing cases.

Upshire, North Essex

With 7-spot Ladybird

With Cream-spot Ladybird

With Pine Ladybird

With Epaulet Ladybird

Four with two Epaulet Ladybirds

On garden wheelie bin lid   Upshire, North Essex

Newly emerged individuals that have not fully developed the dark pigments look very different, with orange wing cases and orange underparts.

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Still developing dark pigment on front underside areas
                                                        Upshire, North Essex

Habitat

Overlaps with other adventive or established species (recent arrivals associated with man made habitats), especially Red-flanked and Round-keeled Ladybirds.

Can be easy to find by beating garden Euonymus shrubs and I have also found it in a garden wheelie bin containing prunings of Firethorn.

Euonymus.  Upshire, North Essex

Euonymus.  Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Euonymus.      Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Firethorn.  Upshire, North Essex

Firethorn prunings containing Forestier's Ladybird

I have also found it on Ivy covered tree trunks at Fishers Green, Essex and on Ivy and Holly in Epping Forest, Essex. Forestier's Ladybird can occur in deeply shaded woodland settings, where this species can be searched for on Holly and Ivy during winter.

Ivy covered tree trunk
Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Ivy covered tree trunk
Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Ivy covered tree trunk   November
Oakwood Pond, Harlow, North Essex

Holly      Epping Forest, North Essex

Holly     Hainault Forest CP, South Essex

Forestier's Ladybird can also be beaten from Yew.

Yew copse     Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

In July 2020 I found two in an oak tree at Fishers Green, having already beaten numerous Round-keeled Ladybirds from nearby oak trees.

I then found another, a month later, in an oak branch in Upshire, Essex on the edge of Epping Forest. 

Both branches were on the south facing edge of a hedge or copse.

I have also beaten Forestier's Ladybird from Field Maple.

Oak tree    July       Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Oak tree       August    Upshire, North Essex

Field Maple     August    Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Additional photographs

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Waltham Abbey, North Essex

Royal Tunbridge Wells, West Kent

Royal Tunbridge Wells, West Kent

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex

Upshire, North Essex