General Chat

Inundated with this week, crawling all over windows and some inside also. OH back from golfing and said same there, they kept brushing them off their arms. Is it the same with you?

we are as well is there any reason for it ?

There are lots of them here in London as well.

There has been an invasion of harlequin ladybirds in England for the past two years, these are aggressive to our indigenous species and are steadily creeping northwards through the UK...ladybird ladybird fly away home ;-)

We have had loads here in Monmouth too, all over the outside walls, apparently (a neighbour says) looking for refuge/hibernation for when the weather changes.

Red with black spots:)

jude

Yep that's the harlequin....invasive, aggressive and out of control and a threat to the native species.



Distinguishing the harlequin ladybird from other British species:

• If its less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) in length, it is definitely not a harlequin ladybird.

• If its red with precisely 7 black spots, it is a 7-spot ladybird.

• If it has white or cream spots, it is a striped ladybird, an orange ladybird or a cream-spot ladybird.

• If it is large, burgundy coloured and has 15 black spots, it is an eyed ladybird

• If it has an orange pronotum, and fine hairs all over the elytra, it is a bryony ladybird.

• If it is black with four or six red spots, two of which are right at the front of the outside margin of the elytra, it is a melanic form of the 2-spot ladybird.

Haven't seen any in Norfolk at the mo in fact I don't remember seeing many during the summer.

Lizx

I cann't remember the last time I saw a ladybird :-S

And dont forget if you come across a orange and brown striped one, it is a notifiable pest: any found must be reported to DEFRA.
www.gov.uk/defra.

Best look on here if you want to see what they look like...

http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/publications/documents/factsheets/coloradoBeetle2006.pdf