I may be wrong, but my understanding, gleaned I think from the British Ladybird people, is that you should not kill Harlequins, as they are very good at killing a number of pests, and in larger quantities than native ladybirds.
I believe there is also evidence, that the native species is fighting back against the alien.
You're not wrong P'doc - best advice from naturalists and the RHS is not to kill Harlequins - they are well established here and we will not be able to wipe them out. Their appearance varies widely as do the many varieties of UK native ladybirds, and there is a strong likelihood that people may destroy natives by mistake.
Also, if UK natives do decline in number, we will need the Harlequins otherwise the aphids will take over!
I don't know if others have noticed this, but over the past few years I've seen UK native ladybirds sunbathing in the garden in the spring whereas the Harlequins don't come out of hibernation until the weather is consistently much warmer - maybe there's a niche for both?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't kill the harlequins either. I'm unconvinced by the evidence to date, but will keep an open mind. Etymological xenophobia.?
I thought the way to tell them apart was that our native types have symmetrical spots, but harlequins don't? Might well be yet another piece of misinformation.
Posts
hmmm - to kill or not to kill
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
You're not wrong P'doc - best advice from naturalists and the RHS is not to kill Harlequins - they are well established here and we will not be able to wipe them out. Their appearance varies widely as do the many varieties of UK native ladybirds, and there is a strong likelihood that people may destroy natives by mistake.
Also, if UK natives do decline in number, we will need the Harlequins otherwise the aphids will take over!
I don't know if others have noticed this, but over the past few years I've seen UK native ladybirds sunbathing in the garden in the spring whereas the Harlequins don't come out of hibernation until the weather is consistently much warmer - maybe there's a niche for both?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
There's no doubt about the one I saw and the link that StillLearning provided shows the difference. A couple do look similar to our native species.
Hopefully I'll not spot one again and I'll be spared the dilemma
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Look at the pictures here http://www.joyofplants.com/wildlife/search.php?o=1188
All so different
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
easiest way to tell the difference, harlequins have brown legs, all our native have black legs
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm
And without my glasses and one of each to compare, black or brown???
And colour is my job ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't kill the harlequins either. I'm unconvinced by the evidence to date, but will keep an open mind. Etymological xenophobia.?
I thought the way to tell them apart was that our native types have symmetrical spots, but harlequins don't? Might well be yet another piece of misinformation.
Sorry Sheps, I meant to say those are cracking photos given the little critters are so small. Well done you.
Bloody foreigners!!
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border