Red-flanked Ladybird Scymnus interruptus
Other name: Red-flanked Scymnus
This is a common garden specialist that is difficult to find in open countryside.
I regularly find it in garden wheelie bins containing prunings from evergreen shrubs, but they can also be found by beating ornamental garden shrubs.
Identification Length 1.5-2.2mm
Typical form (About 90% of my records)
Very distinctive. Black with a red triangle on each wingcase. Diagnostically these reach the side of the wingcase and even extend to the underside edge (the epipleuron).
Some show red around the face area and these may be males, with females having a mostly dark face.

Broxbourne, Herts

Chingford, Essex

Chingford, Essex

Thundridge, Herts

Exeter, Devon

Exeter, Devon

Waltham Abbey, Essex

Underside showing red epipleuron

Showing small size

With 2-spot Ladybird

With 22-spot Ladybird

With Forestier's Ladybird

Upshire, Essex
Light form (About 10% of my records)
These have the orangey red colour extending over most of the wingcase, except for a dark central line and are confusable with Conifer Ladybird. Red-flanked Ladybird is a wider robust species, compared to the narrower Conifer Ladybird. The red epipleuron is still the diagnostic feature to look for.

Thundridge, Herts

Upshire, Essex

Nazeing, Essex

Waltham Abbey, Essex

Nazeing, Essex

Upshire, Essex

Diagnostic red epipleuron

With Harlequin Ladybird

With Round-keeled Ladybird
Habitat
Can be common in garden evergreen shrubs, especially Euonymus, Privet, Viburnum tinus, Firethorn and Ivy.
One of the restrictions on recording this species is gaining access to private gardens. Many of my records are due to the fact that I work as a gardener.
It is likely to occur in ornamental planting in parks, car parks and other public spaces.
I have found it by eye on an ivy covered fence outside Loughton Underground Station, Essex and on Firethorn in supermarket utility planting in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Viburnum tinus. Waltham Abbey, Essex

Ivy covered fence. Waltham Abbey, Essex

Ivy covered fence Exeter, Devon

Euonymus. Upshire, Essex

Euonymus. Waltham Abbey, Essex

Firethorn in supermarket utility planting
Waltham Abbey, Essex
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Firethorn in supermarket utility planting
Waltham Abbey, Essex
Can also be found in deciduous trees and shrubs, including Oak and Wiegela.

Oak tree. Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Wiegela. Upshire, Essex
Additional Photographs

With Red Spider Mite

With Flea Beetle

Nazeing, Essex


Minorca, Spain
Minorca, Spain

Waltham Abbey, Essex

Intermediate form Upshire, Essex

Waltham Abbey, Essex

Upshire, Essex

Upshire, Essex

Upshire, Essex

Upshire, Essex

Waltham Abbey, Essex
