Name that bug

[Fred]

Can anyone help identify this bug please? I've searched the internet and a couple of bug sites but can't seem to find an exact match.

It's on a creeping ivy weed thing, we haven't found any in the garden so I'm leaving them till I found out what they are. I'm thinking some type of caterpillar as he has 6 legs at the front, but I need to find out if they're good or bad for the garden.

Sorry not great photos but it's the best I could get with my little camera if you zoom in you can see them better.







Edit a zoomed in image.

[Brian]

It reminds me of something I saw on Dr Who? once.
The Natural History Museum in London has this very useful forum to help with identification. I've used it a couple of times and it was very good.
I hope it's good for the garden...

[Fred]

It reminds me of something I saw on Dr Who? once.
The Natural History Museum in London has this very useful forum to help with identification. I've used it a couple of times and it was very good.
I hope it's good for the garden...

Thank you Brian I have finally tracked it down after a lot of research and it's a baddie that neds to be destroyed.

Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata (aka Squash Beetle, Bryony Ladybird, 28 spotted leaf eating ladybird)

I thought all Ladybirds were good, but this one will munch happily away on your Veg so watch out.

My job tomorrow is to go squishing them.

Apparently if a Ladybird has a black head it is good, if the head is not black then you must destroy it if you grow veg.

[Brian]

Interesting. I would never have taken those things as potential ladybird look a likes.

One point though - the Latin name means "24 spotted" rather than 28. How carefully should we be counting the spots?

[Fred]

Interesting. I would never have taken those things as potential ladybird look a likes.

One point though - the Latin name means "24 spotted" rather than 28. How carefully should we be counting the spots?

Well as the larvae don't have any spots yet I will just squish any that get in my way.  

As for counting the spots, after a few glasses of Merlot they all look the same to me. But Black headed ones are Ok so I should spot the good ones.    

I never understood Latin, it's all double Dutch to me.

[Fred]

Been hunting today and found a lot. Decided to chuck them in soapy water rather than squish them as they squirt out green gunk.



So far none found in the poly tunnel. But I think it's something to watch out for and hunting will continue till we're happy they have gone.

Oh and this is what they done overnight.

[Brian]

Busy little b.... bees, aren't they?

[Fred]

Busy little b.... bees, aren't they?

And if anyone wants to know what lurks beneath the Bryony plant, here is another one I found at the bottom of the garden.



Be warned it spreads like hell and helps raise veg eating ladybirds.

[Jiml]

Well that's spoilt their day

[Fred]

Well that's spoilt their day