Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle

Seven-spotted lady beetle on a flower
Scientific Name
Coccinella septempunctata
Family
Coccinellidae (ladybird beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles)
Description

The seven-spotted lady beetle is a stereotypical lady beetle: it is reddish with black spots, has a shiny, round, domed body, a flat underside, and tiny antennae. Identify this species by the presence of a white spot on either side of the head, and the 7 black spots on the elytra (shell-like wing covers).

This lady beetle species is native to Eurasia and is said to be the most common lady beetle in Europe. It was introduced intentionally into North America in the middle 20th century to combat aphid pests, and it is now established on our continent.

Learn more about this and other lady beetles (ladybugs) on their group page.

Other Common Names
Seven-Spotted Ladybug
Media Gallery
Seven-spotted lady beetle on a flower
The seven-spotted lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is a stereotypical lady beetle: it is reddish with black spots, has a shiny, round, domed body, a flat underside, and tiny antennae.
Donna Brunet
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Seven-spotted lady beetle on a flower
Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.