The little critter is the larval stage of a 7-spot ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata). It is a very widespread native British species and commonly found in gardens. Its preferred food is aphids and roses are a preferred habitat of several species of aphids so it is probably looking for a meal. Alternatively, as it looks to be fairly well grown, it may be looking for somewhere to pupate. The pupa retains the yellow and black(ish) warning colours and can flick its anterior end up and down if disturbed. They often pupate in quite exposed positions, including on leaves, relying on these defences. I do not know when the photograph was taken but the usual time of year to see the larvae is June. The 7-spot can, in a favourable year, have a partial second generation when the young adults that hatched earlier in the year mate and reproduce. The adults seek out somewhere to overwinter as temperatures drop, usually during September or October. Cold makes them inactive and their prey disappear so they wait out the winter in a sheltered spot. The 7-spot sometimes overwinter in groups which can number up to 200+ which may help they to create a slightly more favourable microclimate but 7-spot ladybirds are tough cookies and have been known to survive being frozen in ice The 7-spot ladybird is able to tackle some species of aphids that other, smaller, ladybirds have problems with and so is particularly helpful to the gardener who wishes to avoid chemical methods of dealing with aphids. Kat Clifford
