Postage-stamp-species
Guides
Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata
22-spot ladybird, 22-spot lady beetle
A small European lady beetle, 3–5 mm in length, distinguished by its bright yellow elytra with 22 black spots. It is the only British and Irish ladybird species where pupa, larva, and adult share similar coloration and pattern. Unlike most coccinellids that prey on aphids, this species is a mycophage specializing on powdery mildew fungi. The species was first described in 1758 by Linnaeus and has been recorded overwintering in aggregations of up to 500 individuals.