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Less Harlequin Ladybirds this year?

Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
in Wildlife gardening
Has anyone noticed less harlequins this year? We have less ladybirds overall in my small garden (SE England) but so far I’ve spotted far more native 7 spots. 

 We usually have one or two harlequin ladybird nests in the shed but this spring they were nowhere to be seen. Maybe the very cold winter but I can’t help but be glad. Last few years the harlequins have greatly outnumbered the smaller beasties!

Posts

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    I've seen quite a few native ladybirds this year but scarcely any harlequins.......of course they will flood in now I've typed that.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I haven’t seen any Harlequins but then I never have since living here.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I haven't seen a single ladybird of any kind in the garden this year. First time i can remember this has happened.
    Sunny Dundee
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    I hope the numbers of native ladybirds spring back for next year. Aphids are living their best lives in my garden atm, with only a few well fed 7 spots to challenge them. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    There were masses of normal ladybirds coming out of hibernation in my garden in Norfolk this spring. When I did the spring tidy up they were all nestled in ths bases of plants. There were hardly any greenfly on the roses in June. I didn't see any Harlequin ladybirds.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Never seen harlequins, but I don't have lots of ladybirds anyway. Occasionally see them hibernating in among the clematis stems when I'm cutting those back in late winter/early spring.
    I don't grow a lot of plants that attract aphids, and when aphids do appear, the blue tits and other birds eat them. No shortage of those in my garden  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Lots of 7-spots now; but wasn't seeing very many at all until a few weeks ago.  Been seeing quite a few of the tiny 22-spots too over the last couple of weeks.
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    I agree @borgadr, the 7 spots have only come out in force these last few weeks. I’ve had a few 22 spots on my veg patch since the spring. And a couple of 2 spots. 

    I’m surprised at harlequins not having become established elsewhere in UK. Someone will prob correct me, but here in Bucks they seemed to easily outnumber the natives up until this year 
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    I have plenty of both all through my garden just now 

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