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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: Georgie on April 29, 2007, 20:02:26

Title: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: Georgie on April 29, 2007, 20:02:26
I spotted a harlequin ladybird in my garden for the first time yesterday and saw another one today.   >:(  I've reported it.  Anyone else got these unwelcome visitors?

G x
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: cambourne7 on April 29, 2007, 21:08:39
i dont think that there harlequins but i found some tiny yellow ladybirds on my plot yesterday bit could not work out how many spots as they were tiny.

Found it 16-spot ladybird (Tytthaspis 16-punctata)

http://www.ladybird-survey.org/UKladybirds/species_desc.asp?species=6455%2059401
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: jennym on May 01, 2007, 11:01:41
Quote from: Georgie on April 29, 2007, 20:02:26
I spotted a harlequin ladybird in my garden for the first time yesterday and saw another one today.   >:(  I've reported it.  Anyone else got these unwelcome visitors?...

Yes. Hope you had the courage to squish it?  ;D
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: sweet-pea on May 01, 2007, 11:12:27
Yes, I found one at Easter and posted it off to Cambridge Uni to report it.  Haven't seen any more, but loads of native ladybirds.
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: Georgie on May 01, 2007, 17:42:17
No Jenny, you know me!   ::)  The first one flew off before I could catch it and the second disappeared into a shrub.  If I do manage to catch any I'll send 'em off but I won't squish 'em.   

Blimey Sweet Pea they've reached York already?   :o

G x
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: mc55 on May 02, 2007, 20:07:20
err, what's wrong with them ... off to do some googling
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: mc55 on May 02, 2007, 20:09:38
gulp, googled it and it is very similar to one we saw a couple of weeks ago - but the central spots were almost joining.  Wonder if it was the same variety - plot is full of ladybirds, so will have a closer inspection at the w/e
Title: Re: Harlequin Ladybirds
Post by: sweet-pea on May 04, 2007, 10:04:06
Quote from: Georgie on May 01, 2007, 17:42:17

Blimey Sweet Pea they've reached York already?   :o


I was quite surprised to find it, but when I looked at the Ladybird survey website, they have a map of reported sightings, and there are quite a few up North.

I haven't seen any more, so I'm hoping it was a one-off.