Christmas day Ladybird

[barquar]

Just going to my Daughters for christmas dinner, first thing to catch my eye was a LADYBIRD strolling along just outside my frontdoor.Anyone else seen any Ladybirds over christmas.
Barquar

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by barquar

Just going to my Daughters for christmas dinner, first thing to catch my eye was a LADYBIRD strolling along just outside my frontdoor.Anyone else seen any Ladybirds over christmas.
Barquar

It's not unusual to see active ladybirds over the holiday period: often they've been in hibernation in cool but shltered places (garages, spare rooms &c) but when the party season starts (people occupy the spare rooms especially) they get warmer and light shines on them and they think it's spring already! Indeed, in a couple of weeks as the days get brighter and longer ones hibernating outside may tend to become active as well. If you see any active outside then it's kind to put them in some sheltered but dark place!

PS: what type of ladybird was it?

[barquar]

To me just a ladybird with spots on, didnt even count the spots.As i was just putting the turkey in the car that i cooked to take to my sons house.
Should have been more observant. Thanks for the information on them.
Barquar

[loripo]

Saw these two earlier today (and a couple in an area nearby) One harlequin and what I think may be a two spot, on the wall of an outside staircase. There are lots of nooks and crannies on the sides of the stairs where I have seen them sheltering...


Also round the car parks to our flats we have 6" diameter metal tubes which form rails. They each have a hole about 1cm diameter at each end, and there was quite a queue of ladybirds and some Arocatus longceps trying to get inside.


I'd like to be able to see inside and just find out how many are overwintering in there.

[Alan Livsey]

I get the odd Harlequin now and again around the bedroom window (inside) and promptly evict them into the British winter. After all, it's only mild.

[2dogs2000]

I was amazed to see a 7 spot ladybird sunbathing on my fence Christmas eve.

[Dogghound]

I usually find them throughout the winter. Plenty active around here, the lack of frost and mild weather must be helping.