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Talkback: Harlequin ladybird

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
If you live near Wimbourne, Dorset, its worth going to Kingston Lacy (NT) to see carpets of snowdrops, by the paths and in the woods. It`s marvellous. Hellebores are out but not many of them.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    In early autumn 2007 I saw thousands of these ladybirds, mostly on the paths, in Northdown House Gardens, Cliftonville, Kent. There were so many you couldn't avoid treading on them. I thought at the time it was a worrying sight after the bad press they had had and so I shall be interested to find out if they are goodies or badies.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    The harlequin has established in the UK very rapidly over the past 3 years and it's obviously here for the forseeable future. In Asia (its homeland), it has a preference for tree dwelling aphids, so perhaps we'll be thankful that those messy woolly beech tree aphids and sycamore aphids might now be kept under control!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    i love ladybirds
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Found a harlequin ladybird today in my garden in south Essex - I think it is spectabilis. Now I have read the article, I don't know whether to kill it or release it back into the wild!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I jointly coordinate the UK Harlequin Ladybird Survey with Peter Brown (NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology), Mike Majerus (Cambridge University) and Remy Ware (Cambridge University). We would be very pleased to hear of any harlequin ladybird sightings, particularly in the North of England and Scotland. Please visit our website:



    www.harlequin-survey.org

    We have received over 20000 records through this survey website largely thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of the public.

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Can somebody please tell me what the lavra look like from the Harlequin ladybird. I have some Evening Primroses which have had the top of their growth distorted and are covered in aphids. These in turn are being eaten by what I thought was ordinary ladybird lavra until somebody said that they shouldn't have the orange stripe across their backs. They have started to pupae and are orange 'blobs' on the middle of the leaves. I literally have too many to count, though the children from the local school have tried every time they walk home. Is there anybody who can help, the only pictures I can find of ladybird lavra is that of a black one with the occasional orange speck. Thank you to whoever answers
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    ladybirds are sooooooooooooooo intresting i do projects and powerpoints on them i love them
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    what do harlequin ladybirds look like ? I have seen an orange ladybird with a different arrangement of spots (2 parallel lines) than normal and didn`t know what it was so I left it alone
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Reply to Froginhood.
    Have a look at this website for pictures:

    http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have had literally thousands in my window frames they get into the house are noisy they seem to have a habit of falling onto hard services I,ve hooverd them out and wash down the windows but still they come their a bloody pest!
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