Ladybirds ... they're off !

[Two_Sheds]

The ladybirds are hard at "it"
Looking forward to lots of ladybird larvae now, to gobble up all the blackfly that will appear any (warm) day now.

[peanut]

Good on 'em....wish mine would hurry up! Ladybird Larvae are great!

[areia]

you refering to bought ladybirds? i had loadssssssss last week on my shrubs at the bottom of the garden along with sheild bugs. thing is they were all black with red spots, not your typical british ladybird

[Shortie]

Yes, I spotted some ladybirds 'maikng babies' in the grass on my lottie where I was digging. So I respectfully sidestepped them and left them to it.

Here's hoping they return to leave the larve eh?

[Flummery]

you refering to bought ladybirds? i had loadssssssss last week on my shrubs at the bottom of the garden along with sheild bugs. thing is they were all black with red spots, not your typical british ladybird

Harlequin , maybe?

[kernowyon]

there are a few native black ladybirds too, this link has a ID page that may be of use.

http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A1f4cfx...ck_NEW_v.5.pdf

is it just me or does anyone else that finds ladybirds 'at it' put them in the greenhouse? sometimes if i find single ladybirds as well they are gently placed in the greenhouse too, you never know they might just get it on!

[SueA]

Only saw my first ladybird this year a couple of days ago, they sem to be slow appearing this year. It was on it's own so I hope it's got some friends around. Photo I took of it below.

[Two_Sheds]

I used to put ladybirds on my plants with aphids, as they seemed hopeless at finding their own dinner. Apparently you're wasting your time moving adult ladybirds around ... they 'mark their territory' and stay where another adult has marked as their own.

You can move larvae though ... no wings, so they can't escape!

[littlemark]

Spotted my first aphid of the year on a Bramley bud, which is dissapointing. We also found two ladybirds snoozing within the blossom, but sadly both were Harlequin's. Positively identified by the Harlequin Ladybird Survey: Harlequin Ladybird Survey - home who will be interested in peoples sitings.

Mark

[peanut]

I found a Harlequin hibernating in my curtains. I reported it online to the survey people seems like they're getting everywhere!

[Nicos]

Have a look at April 5th 2006 on this ( and the others following it)....you'll never look at sex life of a ladybird again in the say way!!!!

All 14 entries tagged Translation, Reverie

[Pumpkin Becki]

We found loads of Harlequins last autumn, on an iron fence next to a dogwood hedge in the garden of the house we are building. The only native 'ladies' we could find seemed to be excreting a weird orangey-yellow substance from around their heads. Something odd is going on...

[squashysu]

Hi

I watched a programme last week and apparently the Harlequinns are killing our own breed of Ladybird, there are yellow ones as well which are particularly nasty with teeth and they kill.

I will try and find it, apparently our breed is the best, but the others are coming over with fruit etc from the EU!!

Long live the British Ladybird I say !!!

[Two_Sheds]

Take care with your "harlequin" ladybirds ... I thought I had one last year, but it was in fact a Pine Ladybird, and okay. I'm glad I didn't kill it.

• If its less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) in length, it is definitely not a harlequin ladybird.

this is a good site: Google Image Result for http://www.harlequin-survey.org/images/ladybird_imgs/spectabilis_pine_clickme.jpg

[Pumpkin Becki]

Take care with your "harlequin" ladybirds ... I thought I had one last year, but it was in fact a Pine Ladybird, and okay. I'm glad I didn't kill it.

• If its less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) in length, it is definitely not a harlequin ladybird.

No, mine are sadly all much bigger than this. We are right in the Harlequin hotspot of the country.