I hadnt realised until reading this thread that I havent seen a ladybird for ages. Quite a few summers ago it was a complete contrast to this, as I was on a beach with the kids in Norfolk and it was absolutely smothered in them, and they bit! Something I didnt realise they did.

This post was last modified: 22-10-2007 08:49 PM by Jane.

I think I have seen three - one in the Spring - a red and black one, one dead on the path - I thought it was alive until I wen to rescue it and someone had trodden on it, and one two days ago one one of my plants - I thnk it was one of the continenetal types that I have read somewhere that they are dangerous to native species.

I've had that happen and was quite shocked that a creature with such a friendly name would do that! Now, if they'd been named 'devil creatures with nasty sharp mouthparts' I could see them doing that, but these are LADYBIRDS!

[aka 'ladybugs' here in the US, still a friendly name].

Kingfisher

That seems to ring a bell somewhere but thay are not the nice archytipal
cuddly bug that you think. If anyone was to ask what I knew about them would be they secrete a yellow liquid to make themselves taste bad to predators & thay eat aphids. I suppose that's where the jaws come in, OOch !
Since the spider biting thread I have been extra careful as well!!!!

This post was last modified: 23-10-2007 06:50 PM by tibbar.

Yesterday I went for a walk in the woods, and was amazed to see about fifty ladybugs (because this is the US) flying around. All various colours, too.

I've seen more bees in the last week than I have all spring and summer, too. So strange.

Kingfisher

I wonder why that is, any clues? Has the weather gone milder?

It could be...parts of North America undergo Indian summer, which is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter. It usually occurs after the first frost, but not always (we have not had a killing freeze here).

Kingfisher

In the last two days I have seen a ladybird with 18 spots and a ladybird with four spots, both I have never seen before, which is encouraging. I've only just started to count the spots.

I have hardly seen any all year so to see two at this time is very good news.

I was working outside on chalk grassland yesterday and saw as many ladybirds as I've seen all year. I also saw a couple of butterflies (I think they were Clouded Yellows), which I thought was unusual for November. Given that it was more like a mid-September day, I'm not surprised that nature's confused.

I think Mother Nature is having a hard time keeping up with the weather. I remember by this time last year I was absolutely freezing at bonfire night, but today seems relatively mild. Maybe we're in for a warmer winter this year? Personally I hope not, I find cold weather quite refreshing and much prefer it to warmer, drizzly English weather.

hi
yes riana it would be nice to have a more colder winter this year i know it will be harder for wildlife but it would kill off a lot of pests,
it is now november and we are still plaqued with mosquitos and flys.

Hi,

All the ladybirds I have seen this year have been harlequin ladybirds - to find out more about harlequin ladybirds, visit the UK Ladybird Survey website (you can reach it by typing "UK Ladybird Survey" into Google and then clicking on the appropriate link in the list that comes up. Let me know how you get on.) Basically, harlequin ladybirds were introduced to Britain from France and are now driving out our 45 or so species of native ladybird species. Harlequins are not only twice the size of many of our natives but they compete with ours for food and frequently EAT native ladybirds too! It's rather like the grey squirrel versus red squirrel story, though even more extreme!

Our ladybirds are therefore becoming rarer and rarer while the harlequins are rapidly increasing in numbers and moving into new areas. If anybody wants to know any more information about harlequins, either visit the website I mentioned earlier or post questions in this thread. I'm very happy to help!