Ladybird, ladybird fly away home!
Your house is on fire; your children are gone.
I really hate that these macro lens photos are so out of focus, and I hesitated before posting this, out of embarrassment at my lack of forethought. You obviously need a tripod or to select a very fast shutter speed. I’ll know next time, perhaps.
This beautiful black ladybird with red spots emerged from one of the tree ferns when I watered it this morning. The trunk has so many little cubby holes that can provide shelter for our minibeast friends. Let’s hope they don’t find themselves trapped when the trunk is fleeced up for the winter.
Do you know what it is? Is it native to the uk or one of the ones that kill our native ladybirds? Just a thought….
It would, indeed, appear to be a harlequin. Oh dear https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/beetles/harlequin-ladybird
Oh dear indeed. Their larvae give nasty bites too, I believe.
There’s not a lot you can do about it though!