Today as I went back to my home in Norbiton Hall, Kingston upon Thames, I noticed in the hedge which borders onto the public pathway, some what we in the UK call “ladybirds“, an insect belonging to the scientific family Coccinellidae.
On closer inspection, they did not look correct. OK, they were red with black spots, but the usually shinny smooth shell covering the wings was dull and wrinkled, plus the head is not quite correct, there were not the usual white spots.
Are they the common ladybirds, could they be pupating? Do lady birds pupate?
Then I spotted other “bugs” which looked similar, but they were long and did not have the characteristic hard shell. The backs looked like pineapples with triangular sections and hair.
What is going on here? Help please.
Is the bug attacking the ladybird?
Typical Ladybird, hard shell, big white spots on head.
Does a ladybird pupate?
Is this a ladybird larvae?
What is this Bug? Is it related to the ladybird?
The two “bugs” seem to be one.
After some research and feedback, I have an answer, see the article Ladybirds the Answer.