Lethal ladybirds?
There are presently some 46 species of ladybirds found in the UK. For an excellent sheet on identifying the most common species, click here.
However, some of these species may now be under threat due to the arrival of the Harlequin Ladybird. This was introduced to the United States in 1988 and now is the most widespread ladybird there. A single female can lay a thousand eggs. To learn how to identify this new arrival click here.
The Harlequin or Halloween Ladybird arrived here in 2004 and its ‘progress’ is being monitored. Go to http://www.harlequin-survey.org/ for
- more information on the Harlequin Ladybird and
- how to record of sightings.
If you are interested in ladybirds in general or can help with the recording of different ladybird species, then click here.
Comments are closed for this post.
Discussion
today i found a small ladybird, about 4mm max it was pale yellow/gold with 18 white spots, please tell me what it is? from thoresby, newark notts england
to report seeing any harlequin ladbirds, visit
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recording.htm
The BBC site has some useful information on the harlequin, including a video clip at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6128042.stm
The spread of Harlequin ladybirds is an example of natural selection in action: they out-compete other species by having a less specific diet and by surviving in a greater range of habitats. They can affect other ladybirds directly by eating ladybird eggs, larvae and pupae.
They also damage late-ripening fruit by sucking out juice when feeding up for the winter – a particular annoyance for wineries, who find it difficult to separate the ladybirds from the grapes!
If you see any, the best thing to do is to report your sighting at:
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/
And of course encouraging biodiversity in your own woodland/garden is always good. For more ideas, see:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/gardenwildlife/
What does this Harlequin ladybird do to others and what should we do if we find some?
Tracy
I found a ladybird a-creeping round my bathroom today. It was black with red spots and I presumed it was a Harlequin ladybird. I thought I’d better check to make sure this was the case before I became a conservation vigilante, and from the second link above, I discovered it was in fact the melanic form of the 2 spot ladybird!
Perhaps have a look here
http://www.ladybird-survey.org/downloads/Ladybird%20descriptions_Info%20pack_2006_v.1.3.pdf
Chris
18 May, 2011