Coccinella

Coccinella is the typical ladybird, with strongly rounded, dome-shaped bodies usually between 4 and 8 millimetres long. These ladybirds have the classic red or orange wing covers with black spots, although the number and pattern of spots can differ between species. The area behind the head often has white markings on a black background. Compared to some related types, Coccinella ladybirds have relatively short legs and antennae. They live in many open places such as gardens, hedgerows, grasslands, and the edges of woodlands across Britain and Ireland. They hunt and eat aphids during spring and summer and are often found on plants and bushes where these insects gather. Some species spend the winter as adults, hiding in plant debris or inside buildings, sometimes gathering together in groups. The group includes both common native species and some introduced ones that have settled in recent years.