Funny-looking/killer Ladybids.

[sharonr]

Over the past few days I`ve noticed some funny looking ladybirds in the garden. They are still red but have lots more spots on them. Some of them have been almost black.
Are they the ones that eat our ladybirds?

[Two_Sheds]

Here's a link to ladybird ID : Ladybird Recognition

[Flummery]

They are probably Harlequin Ladybirds - not good for our own indigenous ones.

[24hourgardener]

there's a good RHS advice sheet here:

Royal Horticultural Society - Gardening Advice: Harlequin Ladybird

which gives good info and also an area where you can report your findings.

Happy reading!

[sharonr]

Thank you for your imput they look like Harlequin Ladybirds.

[lynda66]

are they bigger than normal ones?

How do I recognise a harlequin?
The harlequin has many colour forms, some of which resemble those of native ladybirds. Common colour forms are black with two or four orange-red blotches on the wing cases, or red with up to 21 black dots on the wing cases. The harlequin is relatively large, being 6-8mm long; most native species with black wings and red blotches are 4-5mm long.

[Two_Sheds]

I believe the official advice is to leave Harlequins alone ... after all, they still eat aphids.

And you don't want to be squashing native ladybirds in a case of mistaken identity

[sharonr]

are they bigger than normal ones?

How do I recognise a harlequin?
The harlequin has many colour forms, some of which resemble those of native ladybirds. Common colour forms are black with two or four orange-red blotches on the wing cases, or red with up to 21 black dots on the wing cases. The harlequin is relatively large, being 6-8mm long; most native species with black wings and red blotches are 4-5mm long.

They are the same size as our ladybirds.
I have found 10 of them in the top corner of my dining room window today. I don`t know how they got there as the window hasn`t been opened and there is no door close by for them to fly in.

[lynda66]

if they are the same size they are ours, make them a house for over winter and get a head start when the aphids come out next year

[Two_Sheds]

They are the same size as our ladybirds.
I have found 10 of them in the top corner of my dining room window today. I don`t know how they got there as the window hasn`t been opened and there is no door close by for them to fly in.

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

2) Ladybirds (and other bugs) can come inside on your clothes, in your hair, in your veg ... I found a slug on the draining board this morning.

Ten though, that's quite cunning.

[nick the grief]

There are 27 varieties of lady birds in this country and a lot of them are named after the number of spot they have like the fourteen spot so count carefully

This might help

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/reco...istinction.htm