''Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata'' (often abbreviated to ''Psyllobora 22-punctata''), the 22-spot ladybird, (earlier known as ''Thea vigintiduopunctata'') is a common, 3–5 mm long ladybird native to Europe . The elytra are yellow in colour with 22 black spots. The pronotum is yellow or white with 5 black spots. Unlike most other ladybirds which feed on

aphid Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...

s, ''P. 22-punctata'' eats

mildew Mildew is a form of fungus. It is distinguished from its closely related counterpart, mould, largely by its colour: moulds appear in shades of black, blue, red, and green, whereas mildew is white. It appears as a thin, superficial growth consi ...

— especially from

umbellifer Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus '' Apium'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering plant ...

s and low-growing shrubs . The 22-spot ladybird is best looked for amongst low vegetation.

References

* * Coccinellidae Beetles of Europe Beetles described in 1758 Articles containing video clips Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Coccinellidae-stub