Coccinella septempunctata
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
     Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
          Class Insecta (Insects)
               Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
                    Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
                         Superfamily Cucujoidea
                              Family Coccinellidae (Lady Beetles)
                                   Subfamily Coccinellinae
                                        Genus Coccinella
                                             Species septempunctata (Seven-spotted Lady Beetle)
septem (L) = "seven"
punctata (L) = "pointed"
Native to Europe
Introduced repeatedly between 1956 and 1971 to control aphids
Became established in 1973

Synthesizes alkaloid with bitter taste, coccinelline, to deter predators; fluid secreted from leg joints
Range: Nearctic & Palearctic
Season:
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
On Ox-eye Daisy