Overwintering sites are not well known in Ireland, but probably include the litter under heather and nearby gorse bushes. Below are a few photographs to help you identify these unusual ladies. Reds, yellows, orange, gray, black, brown and even pink. There are about 500 different kinds in the United States and nearly 5000 world wide. It is usually found on heather plants, particularly mature plants with succulent growth on the margins of the given habitats. Some ladybugs have no spots while some have as many as twenty four ladybug stripes. Habits: Preys almost exclusively on the larvae of the Heather Leaf Beetle, although the adults may also consume aphids and the larvae of several other leaf beetles. It is found in the Palearctic.Coccinella hieroglyphica is found in Europe. Habitat: Restricted to areas with heather, such as bogland margins, heath and heathy scrub, usually with wet patches to facilitate the required growth of heather plants for the prey species, the Heather Leaf Beetle ( Lochmaea suturalis). Coccinella hieroglyphica is a species of beetle in family Coccinellidae. It is likely under-recorded and is probably present in most heathland or boggy areas throughout.

Other forms occur occasionally, including one with bolder markings and another which is almost entirely black.Дistribution in Ireland: Widespread but very local. It has a dull rusty-orange background colour with several black dashes and spots, said to resemble an Egyptian hieroglyph. This species is one of the more elusive species in Ireland, despite being rather widespread.