@FBM,
I've been known to like artsy fartsy, as it happens.
Now for something a little different, British ladybirds, from a Guardian slide show:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2013/jul/22/ladybird-species-harlequin-uk-insects
17 photos there
The two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) has up to 16 black or red spots, which can be very variable – in splodges or in a grid pattern. It is the ladybird which most commonly overwinters in buildings.
Photograph: Blickwinkel/Alamy
The 14-spot ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) is yellow or black with between four and 14 black or yellow spots, which are almost rectangular. Overwinters in various locations, usually low down.
Photograph: NorthernExposure/Alamy
The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is an alien species, which is expected to spread rapidly as it outcompetes other species and is a major threat to them and some other insect groups. It has a yellow-orange, orange-red, red or black body with up to 21 orange-red or black spots, and white or cream spots, lines or solid marking on its pronotum (front plate).
Photograph: Alamy
The orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) has 12-16 white spots. It overwinters in leaf litter or sheltered positions on trees and eats mildews. Considered until 1987 an indicator of ancient woodland, it has become widespread since it became common on sycamores; it has recently moved on to ash trees. It is attracted to light and is often found in moth-traps.
Photograph: Imagebroker/Alamy
A cream-spot ladybird feeding on blackfly. This species has a maroon-brown body with 14 cream spots; six of which form a line across the wing cases. Host plant: various deciduous trees and shrubs. Overwinters in plant litter, bark crevices and beech nuts.
Photograph: David Norton/Alamy
An eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata) on blossom. At 7mm-8.5mm, this is Britain's largest ladybird and has a russet or burgundy body and up to 23 black spots, which sometimes have cream rings around them. Host plant: needled conifers, particularly pines. Will disperse from conifers in late summer when feeding up for winter. Overwinters in soil or leaf litter.
Photograph: Alamy
An adult pair of seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) mating. The pronotum is black with anterior-lateral white marks.
Photograph: FLPA/Alamy
A striped ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) on a flower of spring European larch (Larix decidua). Chestnut with cream stripes and up to 15 spots, it is most commonly found in mature Scots pine woodland. Preferred prey are the large brown aphids of the genus Cinara.
Photograph: FLPA/Alamy
The water ladybird (Anisosticta 19-punctata) is usually from late summer, turning reddish in April-June. Distinctly elongate and flattened in shape, it has 15-21 black spots and inhabits reed-beds and wetlands, overwintering between leaves and in stems of reeds and grass tussocks.
Photograph: Chris Mcloughlin/Alamy
A 22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) on a curled stalk with a waterdrop. This species measures 3mm-4mm and is yellow or black with 20-22 black spots. The pronotum has five discrete black spots. Host plant: various, particularly hogweed. Overwinters in low herbage; feeds on mildews.
Photograph: Jef Meul/Corbis
