Ladybird Lavae

This creature was crawling around on the lid of our wheelie bin this morning.  It’s the larvae of a ladybird, and judging by the markings it’s likely to be a harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, the most invasive ladybird on Earth.
The harlequin ladybird was introduced to North America in 1988, where it is now the most widespread ladybird species on the continent. It has already invaded much of north-western Europe, and arrived in Britain in summer 2004.
There are 46 species of ladybird (Coccinellidae) resident in Britain and the recent arrival of the harlequin ladybird has the potential to jeopardise many of these.
Mated female ladybirds lay eggs in June/July which hatch into immature stages called larvae, these feed on aphids and them form pupae.  The new generation of adult ladybirds emerge from the pupae in August.  These new adults feed but do not mate until next spring, after they have overwintered.
 
There is a Harlequin Ladybird Survey which will monitor the spread of the harlequin ladybird across Britain and assess its impact on native ladybirds.  Further information regarding the survey can be found at:

http://www.ladybird-survey.org/default.aspx