Encouraged by your reception of yesterday's ladybird picture, I went hunting in the orchard again... and found this pair. Once again they appear to be from different sub-species as the male hasn't the same markings or colouring and is so much smaller than the female.
I suspect they are the same species with similar, yet different markings. IMHO Female bigger to accommodate her reproduction paraphernalia and easier for the males to serve. 2 differently sexed ladybirds wouldn’t work...not enough purchase for the make on such an incline.
Mating season for ladybirds seems to be a precarious time... but he fate of the individual is not the concern of the species as long as the latter keeps going.
Love the caption :)