The harlequin ladybird is rounder in shape than many of the other British species. It is certainly rounder than the 7-spot, eyed and striped ladybirds, which are all oval, and much rounder than the 13-spot ladybird, which is distinctly elongate compared with most other ladybirds.

Of the larger British species, only the bryony ladybird is similar in shape to the Harlequin, and this is a little more domed