Ladybirds

sparrer

In my garden yesterday there were about 30/40 ladybirds (doesn't sound a lot but the garden is only 18 x 20 feet), most of them on the pansies but I haven't seen any aphids. I googled and they're the common British ones, not the Harlequin invaders, so I was wondering if anyone else has seen so many in one place and what could be attracting them? Also I wonder if there is a humane way of getting rid of Harlequins if they arrive here without harming the British variety?

conradmum

I've been out in the garden today and noticed loads too. I've also noticed a sudden abundance of them in previous years. I think it's just that with this lovely weather they're emerging from hibernation and wandering around trying to find a good area for food before they become more stationary and less visible.

lutink

ladybirds eat green fly right
my little girls rose bush is covered in the green sods....

peter_the_piper

lutink wrote: »

ladybirds eat green fly right
my little girls rose bush is covered in the green sods....

Put a bird feeder fight beside the rose bush. They will queue up for the feeder and have a snack whilst they are waiting.

lutink

wicked, thank you!

dogstarheaven

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/default.htm this is a link to those who are interested to save our 7-spotted native. this species has been under devastating decline since the harlequin ladybird invasion and to support this campaign will make headway to helping to keep our species going...

dogstarheaven

sparrer wrote: »

Also I wonder if there is a humane way of getting rid of Harlequins if they arrive here without harming the British variety?

i read somewhere that you're not supposed to eliminate the harlequins by force as it's that is could be seen as 'tampering with nature'. best to leave them alone. to see so many must be a wonderful sight. i haven't noticed any in my garden yet but other places i have. have lots of bumblebees tho!;)

£$&*"($£&(

It's not really worth trying to control Harlequins because they are fairly common and it won't have any effect on their population or their establishment in this country. Removing large hibernating groups might help a bit, and these seem to really huge sometimes but more will come in every year.

morg_monster

I have been seeing lots of ladybirds over the past coupe of weeks too! I always think they are going to be harlequins but they haven't been, so that's great. However it pales in comparison to summer 1996 I think, when i was on a summer holiday and we stopped at the "beach" near the severn bridge. There were ladybirds EVERYWHERE, all over our clothes and hair, teeming on the beach, the waves were washing thousands out to sea. To be honest I found it quite icky and have never been quite so fond of them since then! Wish I had a picture, it was amazing.

heynonnynonny

I wish I saw more ladybirds, I barely ever see them

alm721

Ive been seeing absolutly loads here over the last few weeks, I honestly have never seem so many. Maybe they're having a bumper year?