Seven-spot ladybird
Cornered, it bleeds a bitter yellow fluid from its leg joints. A bird that tastes it never tries again.
| Where | Almost anywhere there are aphids |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 to 8 mm |
| When | February to October |
It eats thousands of aphids in a lifetime. That is why gardeners encourage it instead of spraying.
The red and black is not camouflage, it is the opposite, a warning meant to be seen. Winter is spent in clusters of hundreds under stones and bark.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Red, Black
Active
Day
To people
Harmless; its yellow fluid can stain skin
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The harlequin varies in colour and spot count, and its legs are usually brown.
Questions
Is the Seven-spot ladybird dangerous to people?
Harmless; its yellow fluid can stain skin.
When can you see the Seven-spot ladybird?
The Seven-spot ladybird can be seen from February to October, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Casey H. Richart, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
Report a mistake in this entry
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.