“Ladybird, ladybird,”
BY MOTHER GOOSE
Ladybird, ladybird,
Fly away home,
Your house is on fire
And your children all gone;
All except one
And that’s little Ann,
And she has crept under
The warming pan.
Insect in your Garden: The Ladybird
Ladybird has such a positive appeal and reputation that even superstitions have only good things to say about them. Apparently a ladybird landing on you will bring you good luck and you must make a wish immediately.
However, this summer, there were news that the British ladybirds were being eaten to extinction by a new voracious ladybird interlopers called the Harlequins. They eats aphids and unfortunately other lady birds as well.
Though they do not harm humans, these harlequin ladybirds apparently hibernate in the warmth of your house and they will build a nest inside the house during the winter. They leave gluey, sticky marks on curtains and wallpapers.
I do think that we have these harlequin ladybird in the garden this year as they are so many of these insect this year. As evidenced by Peter’s photos above, they are not shy, they are willing to pose for the camera.
Wildlife have been asking that people complete a survey about these ladybirds.
A bug’s life: know your ladybirds
Harlequin ladybird
First seen in the UK in 2004, the harlequin is now the most populous species of ladybird. Feasts on aphids, other ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies. Spreading at more than 100km a year, it is rapidly conquering the country.
Seven-spot ladybird
Goes into leaf litter over the winter months. Historically, the most populous species seen in gardens. Now the second most numerous species, with distribution remaining high.
Two-spot ladybird
Suffered dramatic decline since the arrival of the harlequin. A decade ago, it was the second most populous species, now not in the top ten of the 47 ladybird species in the UK. Feeds on aphids, shelters in people’s homes over winter months.
14-spot ladybird
This aphid-feeder yellow ladybird has square spots. A common species, which has seen a rise in numbers this year.
Kidney spot ladybird
This small, black ladybird with two red spots feeds on tiny insects. Often seen on deciduous trees, and hides in the cracks of deciduous trees over winter.
Orange ladybird
This ladybird feeds off mildew. Experiencing a huge distribution increase, thought to be because the warmer, wetter weather in the UK gives it more food.
Eyed ladybird
Britain’s biggest ladybird, feeds on aphids, most usually found on conifer trees or sheltering in leaf litter over winter.
