Ladybird in flight. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) beetle flying over a lady's mantl

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Ladybird in flight. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) beetle flying over a lady's mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) flower. The outer wings of the ladybird are strengthened into a hard covering called the elytra (red, black spots) to protect the delicate flight wings (transparent) found beneath. The labybird's red and black colours are a warning to predators, as it is able to squirt distasteful fluids. Magnification: x4 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 4676px × 3740px
Photo credit: © POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -spot, -spotted, alchemilla, animal, beetle, biological, biology, coccinella, coloured, composite, elytra, entomological, entomology, false-coloured, fauna, flight, flower, flying, insect, invertebrate, ladybird, ladys, mantle, nature, sem, septempunctata, spot, spotted, vulgaris, wildlife, wings, zoological, zoology