Red-headed Ladybird Rhyzobius lophanthae
Other names: Red-headed Rhyzobius Plum-headed Ladybird
This species has spread rapidly in southern England and is associated with Leyland Cypress.
Identification Length 2.0mm
Straightforward if seen well.
Black elytra (wing cases) have distinctive extra long bristles.
The head and pronotum are a brownish red or plum colour, as is the entire underside.
In bright sunshine the head and pronotum can appear a brighter orangey-red colour.
On some individuals, and in some dull lighting conditions, the plum colour is darker and at first glance they can resemble one of the all black Scymnus species.
Typical plum-coloured front
Upshire, North Essex
Bright orangey-brown front
Upshire, North Essex
Dark non contrasting front Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Extra long bristles on sides Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
All orangey brown underside
With Epaulet Ladybird
With Forestier's Ladybird
With 10-spot Ladybird
Upshire, North Essex
Larvae
The larvae can be found whilst searching for adults and are quite distinctive.
They resemble other typical ladybird larvae but are much smaller.
They are a dark grey with a distinctive pale cream patch in the centre, covering four segments.
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Habitat
Has a strong affinity with Leyland Cypress. I have often found them in garden wheelie bins which have been filled with prunings from Leyland Cypress hedges.
Leyland Cypress hedge. Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Leyland Cypress prunings containing six Red-headed Ladybirds
I have beaten Red-headed Ladybird from an Ivy covered fence but I quickly realised that this was located opposite a large Leyland Cypress hedge.
Ivy opposite Leyland Cypress hedge Waltham Abbey, North Essex
They sometimes also occur with Round-keeled, Red-flanked and Forestier's Ladybirds in garden wheelie bins containing mixed prunings of evergreen shrubs, although they are rarely common.
I have also beaten Red-headed Ladybird from Euonymus shrubs, ornamental Juniper and Yew. They are likely to occur occasionally in other evergreen garden shrubs, although are not as frequent in this habitat as the closely related Forestier's or Epaulet Ladybirds.
Euonymus shrub Upshire, North Essex
Ornamental Juniper Upshire, North Essex
Yew Upshire, North Essex
During 2022 I found this species becoming increasingly common and spreading into other less typical habitats.
I swept one from rough grassland at Canvey Wick, South Essex.
I also started finding them in Ivy alongside Epaulet Ladybirds.
Swept from rough grassland Canvey Wick, South Essex
Ivy covered tree trunk
Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex
Additional photographs
Swept from Heather by Mark Hows
Chobham Common, Surrey
Swept from rough grassland
Canvey Wick, South Essex
Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
Nazeing, North Essex
Thundridge, Hertfordshire
Thundridge, Hertfordshire
Nazeing, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, North Essex
Waltham Abbey, 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
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Upshire, North Essex
Beaten from Euonymus Upshire, North Essex
Beaten from Juniper Upshire, North Essex
Beaten from Ivy Fishers Green, Lee Valley, North Essex
