Ladybird adults and larvae are the commonest predators of aphids. The two, seven and ten spot ladybirds have red wing cases with prominent black spots and are common in orchards. The conifer ladybird (small, black with 4 red spots) is an important early season predator of woolly aphid.
Unfortunately, ladybirds appear sporadically and are not reliable natural enemies.
They are generally considered to have comparatively poor prey-searching ability.
The prey is detected by contact, larvae spending most of their time searching uninfested leaves. High thresholds of prey density are required to stimulate egg laying.
Eggs are laid in batches on the leaf surface.
Newly hatched larvae often remain on the egg batches cannibalising unhatched eggs and siblings.