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.