Hieroglyphic ladybird

When: Mainly summer

Scientific name: Cocinella hieroglyphica

Size: 4-5mm in length

Where: Amongst the heather in peatlands; Wester Moss SSSI

A rather exotic sounding find for a bog in central Scotland, the hieroglyphic ladybird is one fo the 46 ladybird species found in the UK. It is particular to this kind of heather bog habitat as its main food source is the larvae of the heather leaf beetle.

Named so because of the graphic patterns found on this ladybird's wings (or 'elytra'), the hieroglyphic ladybird can be quite tricky to identify due to the huge variations found in the markings across individuals. It may not be the spots that give this species away, but rather the finer details found on the little beetle's head and legs. Adults will emerge from dormancy in March, in search of food. Males and females then mate in May, with eggs being laid amongst the heather for safety until the larva hatch out in summer. Initially, the young feed on aphids before forming a pupa - the inactive stage between young and adult - with the new generation of fully fledged ladybirds appearing in September. These adults will then feed until they go into the overwintering state in the colder months, emerging the following year to begin the cycle all over again.

Occurences of this ladybird are documented as far back as 1896, in the naturalist journal of the time, The Annals of Scottish Natural History. In volume 7 of this journal, it is recorded that leading Scottish naturalist and polar explorer William Spiers Bruce collected examples of hieroglyphic ladybirds from the summit of Ben Nevis, and sent them to a friend for safekeeping before embarking on a mission to the Arctic! Who knew that such tiny creatures could be such adept mountaineers?

If you are interested in spotting ladybirds around the Inner Forth, you can get involved with the national UK Ladybird Survey, which aims to monitor and record the populations of ladybirds around the country. Next time you find yourself on a walk through the heather, pause and take a look to see if you can spot any of these wee critters!

Photo: Gilles San Martin, Wikimedia