Ladybirds having a good time

[Squash64]

These ladybirds were having a good time on a cardoon bud




at least I think that's what they were doing.  

This was also on a cardoon bud, feasting on the blackfly

[Chrispy]

Is that a harlequin?

[tonybloke]

nice photo's of harlequin ladybirds, betty!

[Squash64]

Do you both think they are harlequins then?

[tonybloke]

yep! 

[star]

This might be a good place to see the difference........ it won't be easy though. Go to the ladybird bit. There are down loadable pages of British Ladybirds. There may be Harlequins on it too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/ladybird-survey/

[OllieC]

I thought most brown legs are Harlequins... Indigenous ones are generally black or very light. Although we're supposed to leave them even if they are & at least they eat the aphids!

[Nikita77]

I wondered what sort of ladybirdthese were, there was one in our front room the other evening i thought maybe it was a ladybird from "the darkside"

[star]

I thought most brown legs are Harlequins... Indigenous ones are generally black or very light. Although we're supposed to leave them even if they are & at least they eat the aphids!

I think you're right Ollie, Harlequins do seem to have brown legs.

I can't say that I've seen a native Ladybird this year 

[caroline7758]

I've only seen one this year. Shame, cos i've got plenty of greenfly they could have!

[Kea]

Yesterday I found a kidney spot ladybird. Black with two orange spots I tried to photograph it with my phone but it keep running off. My plot is covered in ladybirds at the moment.

[Angel]

I have only saw one ladybird all year    didnt see many last year either ! 
Are they in decline ?

[Flighty]

Like Kea my plot has been covered in ladybirds this week! 

This site may be of interest  http://www.ladybird-survey.org/

[GrannieAnnie]

I've only seen one ladybird (we call them ladybugs) all summer.
The Harlequins have taken over here- too bad because they form swarms on the house
and eat beneficial insects.