Ladybird spider (Eresus Sandaliatus)

Like me, you might be surprised to learn that such a strikingly good-looking spider could be native to the UK. The Ladybird spider (Eresus Sandaliatus) is one of Britain's rarest. So rare that for about 70 years it was thought to be extinct here until it was rediscovered in 1980. Careful conservation work has enabled the spider to grow from just a few individuals to over 1000, but more work is needed for this spider to come off the danger list.

By Viridiflavus (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

The Spider and Harvestman Recording Scheme webite is tracking the whereabouts of this and other spiders. They report on the Ladybird Spider's preferences for south-facing sandy slopes and its four-year life cycle.

To really ensure its survival at least 20 sites where the spider can find a habitat are required. There is also, it has to be said, much still to learn about this spider, its requirements and role in the ecosystem.

The invertibrate conservation trust Buglife has an appeal raising funds for the development of habitats and further conservation work. It is an appeal well worth supporting.

Adalia 10-punctata - 10-spot ladybird in Leicestershire and Rutland

This small ladybird can be found with a variety of patterns to the elytra, but the pronotum is quite distinctive.

By @Fulup

The presence of the 7-spot ladybird (seen in Northumberland), almost sitting on the smaller 10-spot gives a sense of the relative size of these beetles.

More details

See the UK Ladybird Survey page for the 10-spot ladybird.

10-spot labybird records in Leicestershire and Rutland

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

Open interactive map in new window

Psyllobora 22-punctata - 22-spot ladybird in Leicestershire and Rutland

A ladybird with a yellow and black colour combination from larvae, through pupae to adult.

By @Fulup

More details

See the UK Ladybird Survey page for the 22-spot ladybird.

22-spot labybird records in Leicestershire and Rutland

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

Open interactive map in new window

Ladybirds of Malaysia (part 2)

I am still learning about the ladybirds likely to be found in Singapore from the Malaysian Ladybird Beetles blog. The range of ladybirds you might expect in Malaysia, at least those encountered by Joento, whose blog this is, can be found in the Subfamilies of Local Species section. I am keen to find public domain or creative commons licensed images of these insects.

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Coccinellinae

Cheilomenes sexmaculata

Public domain
Photographer: Surender Dalal

Encyclopedia of Life entry.

Coelophora inaequalis

Photographer: JamesDouch [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Micraspis discolor

Photographer: leemt2, on Flickr

Chilocorus nigritus

Coccinella transversalis

Photographer: Arthur Chapman

Encyclopedia of Life entry.

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Epilachninae

Epilachna indica

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Scymninae

Scymnus apiciflavus

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

Photographer: Isidro Martínez

Encyclopedia of Life entry.

Anatis ocellata - Eyed ladybird in Leicestershire

The largest ladybird of the United Kingdom, the Eyed ladybird is distinctive for the pale rings surrounding the black spots on the elytra.

The pale rings are only hinted at on the edge of the elytra of this example.

This ladybird is usually found in woodland areas, mostly of conifers, like Scots pine, Douglas fir and larch.

UK Distribution

Widespread and stable.

More details

See the UK Ladybird Survey page for the Eyed Ladybird.

Eyed labybird records in Leicestershire and Rutland

The National Biodiversity Network records are shown on the map below. (See terms and conditions)

Open interactive map in new window

Ladybirds of Malaysia

As you would expect, the closest match for the ladybirds of Singapore would those of neighbouring Malaysia. An interesting website to explore is the ongoing blog Malaysian Ladybird Beetles.  Joento is an amateur entomologist from Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia.It is interesting to match some of the images of Malaysian species from this site with Singaporean images posted on Flickr.

Micraspis discolor

A yellow ladybird was spotted and photographed at Telok Blangah in SW Singapore in January 2012. This has the same elytra (wing case) and pronotum (neck guard) as the Micraspis discolor on the Mayalsian site.

Chilocorus nigritus

A dark, almost metalic looking ladybird has also been spotted in Choa Chu Kang New Town,Singaore in 2008. It looks quite like  the Curinus coeruleus species sometmes found in Malaysia

Harmonia testudinaria in Singapore?

Remote hunting for ladybirds in Singapore is proving both interesting and frustrating. A search for 'ladybird singapore' on Flickr provides lots of hits, for example. This can give some clues about where and when to look for these beetles, but not necessarily the name of the species found.
The examples uploaded to Flickr for ladybirds do not look similar to the species found in the United Kingdom. I am guessing that there would be more of an overlap with the ladybirds present in Australia. That could be helpful as there are efforts, in the 'Atlas of Living Australia' to map the presence of ladybird species there. Another site interested in of ladybirds present in Australia is 'Ladybirds of Australia', especially the Image Gallery.
One ladybird that seems to be present in both Singapore and Australia is Harmonia testudinaria.

One was seen on March 8, 2008 in Choa Chu Kang New Town, South West, Singapore. It has been mapped across Australia in the Atlas of Living Australia.