Forestier's Ladybird Rhyzobius forestieri
Though first seen in Britain in 2014, this species was not included in the main section of The Fieldguide, Roy and Brown (2018).
After two unsuccessful trips to Abney Park, N. London, to search for this species, I found my first record in a garden wheelie bin in Nazeing, Essex on 16th August 2017. I then found another in a garden wheelie bin in Upshire, Essex, six days later.
I then started to see this species more regularly. I recorded it on 15 occasions in 2018, 29 times in 2019, and by 2021 it had become a common background species, both in gardens and the wider countryside, with 33 records and up to five individuals at a time.
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
Ivy covered tree trunks
Cadmore Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
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
Cheshunt, Lee Valley, Hertfordshire
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
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Royal Tunbridge Wells, West Kent
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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
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
With 22-spot Ladybird
With Epaulet Ladybird
