www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Seen on my walk in Rushmere St Andrew this morning and curious to know what this is please. I’ve had a search where I can, I’m not even sure if its a larva?! Thank you

Hello Jane ,
I reckon its a Lady bird Larva of some description ,possibly Harlequin …………………………. Someone will know for sure !
Regards Allan.W.

Harlequin ladybird larvae are quite spiny, this one I suspect is a 7-spot ladybird larvae.

It looks like a little sweet that I would have devoured ravenously when I was a lad. Sorry that wasn't very helpful was it. Brilliant find. I haven't got the foggiest idea what it is though and don't think I have ever seen one before. I will gladly support what Bugboy suggests.

Oh really! Thank you, it was about a centimetre in length. This is a wonderful forum. I have just started taking early morning walks and taking all this lovely nature in, learning as I go. Thank you again.

Hi JaneC,

Welcome to UK butterflies, good to hear from you. One of the good things (perhaps the only good thing ?) about Coronavirus and the restrictions it has placed on us all is that it has made us more aware of our own localities and the nature that can be found close to us which previously we would have whizzed past in our cars and not seen. My fervent hope is that after this pandemic has eased our attention will remain focused on our environment. We must find a way to carry on our lives without indiscriminate pollution of the atmosphere and destruction of our natural habitat plus find a way to naturally curb a world population out of control. Is it any wonder new viruses emerge ? It aint rocket science.

Best wishes,
Jenks.
p.s. please excuse my rant ! This is a wonderful site with loads of good info on it shared by knowledgeable people.

Thank you for the welcome Jenks. Returning to nature is helping my wellbeing in these strange times. It is sparking my wonder, curiosity and creativity. Really struggling to make sense of everything else!
Best wishes
Jane

I agree with Buggy that this is a 7-spot ladybird. We've had dozens in the garden this year and in recent weeks they have been pupating en masse. The pupae look a little more like ladybirds (but not a lot!):





I can easily see a dozen in one field of view on our nettle patch.

There is an excellent Lewington-illustrated field guide to ladybirds, including full identification of larvae and pupae:

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Field-Ladybi ... 472935683/

Guy

Fantastic, thank you for all the information.

JaneC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:00 am...Returning to nature is helping my wellbeing in these strange times. It is sparking my wonder, curiosity and creativity. Really struggling to make sense of everything else!

Good to hear, Jane. We spend so much time concentrating on the stressful, everyday things that we forget there is a whole world out there full of wild creatures that do not tax their lives with such burdens. Furthermore, spending time amongst them actually alleviates our stress.

A heightened appreciation of this might be one of the few positive by-products of these last few months.

Yes my walks in nature are little escapes of freedom for my heart and soul. Walk in nature, read about it and create simple things from it are all I want to do at the moment! There can be nothing greater to explore and learn about... an Angle Shades I believe, there, my first ever moth identification

David M wrote: ↑Sat Jun 06, 2020 9:45 am

JaneC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:00 am...Returning to nature is helping my wellbeing in these strange times. It is sparking my wonder, curiosity and creativity. Really struggling to make sense of everything else!

Good to hear, Jane. We spend so much time concentrating on the stressful, everyday things that we forget there is a whole world out there full of wild creatures that do not tax their lives with such burdens. Furthermore, spending time amongst them actually alleviates our stress.

A heightened appreciation of this might be one of the few positive by-products of these last few months.

I could not agree more. This is my first butterfly year and I am at my happiest wandering around in fields, meadows and woods with only nature for company. I forget about everything and I am in total sensory overload. My mind is full of sights and sounds and I am inhaling the most wonderful smells. I am so inquisitive about everything I see (insects, flowers and birds) and I feel like I am on a learning experience with every step I take. I totally forget about Covid-19 whilst I am out there.