Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Adalia
Species: A. decempunctata
Common Name: Ten-spot Ladybird.

This species of ladybird beetle, belonging to the family Coccinellidae, is commonly known as the ten-spot ladybird (Adalia decempunctata). Native to Europe and parts of Asia, it is a small, rounded beetle typically measuring 4–5 millimeters in length. Its coloration is variable: the elytra (wing covers) may be red, orange, yellow, or even black, often marked with up to ten dark spots—though the pattern can differ widely among individuals. Like other ladybirds, it is an important predator of aphids and other small plant pests, contributing significantly to natural pest control in gardens, fields, and forests. Both larvae and adults are voracious feeders, moving actively across foliage in search of prey. When threatened, the beetle exudes a yellowish, foul-smelling defensive fluid from its leg joints, a typical behavior among ladybirds. The genus Adalia also includes the well-known two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata), and together these species are valued for their ecological role as beneficial insects in temperate ecosystems.