Not so nice itty bitty Ladybirds

Nov 4, 2016 by Elizabeth 2 Comments

The Furlong daughter living near us here, but in the country, not in our town, has just had an unnerving experience. 

Her house became covered in dear little Ladybirds – thousands of them all over the front.  I thought Ladybirds, Ladybugs were treasured here in the UK, because of their scarcity.

But these Ladybirds – the swarms – are invaders. They are not nice. They are destroying British species as they carry a fatal fungal disease

Swarms of harlequins have been reported in a number of areas in recent days, including Southampton and Peterborough.

It is noticeably bigger than our ladybirds, at up to a third of an inch, and, while they are found in a range of colours, the most common variety is red or orange.

Harlequin larvae are voracious eaters, with the young of other ladybirds being one of their favourite snacks. They do help keep down aphid numbers, however, and are a food source for larger insects such as house spiders.

Pest controllers recommend using a vacuum cleaner to remove an infestation but warn that, when disturbed, the bugs secrete a nasty yellow fluid that stains woodwork and carpets. Link