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Presentation
The seven-spotted ladybug is a small, easily recognizable beetle characterized by its bright red wing covers adorned with seven distinct black spots. It is one of the most common and appreciated ladybugs in Europe, symbolizing good luck in many cultures.
Its body has an oval and domed shape. The red wing covers bear seven black spots symmetrically arranged: three on each side and one in the center. The head and pronotum are generally black with white markings. The antennae are short and the legs are black.
Characteristics
Indicative values: they vary by subspecies, sex and region.
Habitat and distribution
The seven-spotted ladybug frequents forests, orchards, agricultural crops, meadows, and urban areas. It prefers areas where aphid colonies are abundant, its main prey. It is found from sea level to moderate altitudes.
CURRENT RANGE
The species is widely distributed throughout Europe, from north to south, and extends to southwestern Asia and North Africa. It has also been introduced to many other regions worldwide for biological pest control against aphids.
Behaviour
It is a diurnal and active species, particularly on sunny and warm days. It is an excellent flier and moves quickly to hunt its prey. During cold periods, it enters diapause and clusters with other individuals in sheltered places to overwinter.
Reproduction
The female lays her eggs in small clusters on plants infested with aphids. The larvae, which are highly voracious, emerge after several days and feed intensively for four to five weeks before pupating. There can be two to three generations per year depending on climatic conditions.
Peculiarities
The seven-spotted ladybug possesses a remarkable chemical defense: when threatened, it secretes a toxic yellowish-orange substance that repels predators. Its Latin name, Coccinella septempunctata, literally means 'small scale insect with seven spots'. It is a very useful species in organic farming.
Threats and conservation
The species benefits from great population stability on a global scale. No major threats are currently documented, although intensive agricultural practices and excessive pesticide use may indirectly affect food availability.
Numbers and trends vary across sources and regions. See the IUCN assessment for the latest reference data.
Gallery
1 documented photographs.
References
UICN — Liste rouge des espèces menacées
Profile updated 08 August 2026 · Reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least concern (LC)
IUCN source, latest published assessment.
Similar animals
Other species documented in Animalpedia.