Bryony ladybird - info request

[asheleaf]

Having IDed the bryony ladybird in the garden last year I've been trying (very unsuccesfully) to get info on them.

I have planted out another 4 White Bryony plants over the winter to add to the two that are already in the vicinity. I keep scouring them for ladybirds but so far nothing. Anyone have any idea when they are likely to emerge?

I intend to keep a close eye on them through the spring/summer so any other helpful info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ashe

[UB4 gardener]

the main book i use for my ladybirds is "ladybirds of surrey" by Roger D Hawkins, one of the Surrey Wildlife trust books i think. I also use The London and Essex Ladybird (Coccinellidae) Surveys: recording ladybirds in London and Essex Looking at the sightings part in the species account in the book they can be around from May onwards. Paul Mabbott will probably be a better person to answer though so I'd wait to hear from him.

Chris

[Paul mabbott]

The bryony ladybird hasn't done very well over the last couple of years and is always rather patchy. It seems to eat out a plot of white bryony after about three years - either moving on or becoming locally extinct. So all observations and information will add to our knowledge!
I think that I've mentioned before that in France it is called the 'melon beetle' - is capable of eating most members of the cucurbit family *but*, in UK, only white bryony is a perennial.
Should warn everyone that all parts of the white bryony are toxic ... it is not a plant to be messed with and not to be planted where young children have easy access!

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by UB4 gardener

the main book i use for my ladybirds is "ladybirds of surrey" by Roger D Hawkins, one of the Surrey Wildlife trust books i think. I also use The London and Essex Ladybird (Coccinellidae) Surveys: recording ladybirds in London and Essex Looking at the sightings part in the species account in the book they can be around from May onwards. Paul Mabbott will probably be a better person to answer though so I'd wait to hear from him.

Chris

Thanks for the advice. I'll sharpen up my searching come May. Thanks for letting me know, I was beginning to think they hadn't survived the winter.

I had "ladybirds of Surrey" on my xmas list but santa skipped that one. I'll try the library but I'm not hopeful. Then again I am in Surrey...

Thanks again, Ashe

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

The bryony ladybird hasn't done very well over the last couple of years and is always rather patchy. It seems to eat out a plot of white bryony after about three years -

Thanks paul, has it been confirmed that they eat out a plot of bryony? Seems to be an indestructable perrenial weed. The tuber can be huge and they grow back from it each spring no matter what you do to the leaves & stems above ground. My neighbour has tried to kill one unsuccesfully for years! I dug it up over the winter and moved it to where it was wanted. Its sprouting wonderfully now and so are several of tuber fragments that broke off in the move.

The first bryony LB I saw last year was on a courgette plant. I do intend to plant them out again this year so hopefully that will encourage them.

Any clues on prefered hibernation sites? I've been looking low in the areas around the white bryony and no sign.

I do hope they'll be back this year.

thanks, Ashe

[Paul mabbott]

I wouldn't want to be too assertive on that! In a couple of cases there have been good colonies on sizeable plants and after a few years the plants have become very sad (but not eliminated and the ladybird has disappeared. This is not a statistically significant sample!
It's possible that, in these cases, the bryony wasn't luxuriant enough to support a colony of the beetle?
As, I said, we need more observations so anything you can contribute ....

Originally Posted by asheleaf

Thanks paul, has it been confirmed that they eat out a plot of bryony? Seems to be an indestructable perrenial weed. The tuber can be huge and they grow back from it each spring no matter what you do to the leaves & stems above ground. My neighbour has tried to kill one unsuccesfully for years! I dug it up over the winter and moved it to where it was wanted. Its sprouting wonderfully now and so are several of tuber fragments that broke off in the move.
, Ashe

[asheleaf]

Went on a bug hunt this afternoon and found 2 Bryony LBs, by the end of the day I was up to 7. All were located in the spot where the White Bryony had been removed so I transferred them to its new position. I will keep a sharper eye out now that I know they are about. I'll keep an eye on the plants too!

Not sure if I should report the sightings somewhere?

Thanks, Ashe

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, please report them - to me (need a grid reference) or to the national Ladybird Survey -
UK Ladybird Survey - homepage - either but not both please - we exchange records and double entries can be a pain!
Yes, the observations will be very useful - more so to me, perhaps, because I store more detailed information than the national survey!
Cheers, Paul
PS: mail me off-forum should you wish ....

Originally Posted by asheleaf

Went on a bug hunt this afternoon and found 2 Bryony LBs, by the end of the day I was up to 7. All were located in the spot where the White Bryony had been removed so I transferred them to its new position. I will keep a sharper eye out now that I know they are about. I'll keep an eye on the plants too!

Not sure if I should report the sightings somewhere?

Thanks, Ashe

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by UB4 gardener

the main book i use for my ladybirds is "ladybirds of surrey" by Roger D Hawkins, one of the Surrey Wildlife trust books i think. Looking at the sightings part in the species account in the book they can be around from May onwards.

Chris

Having spotted the first bryony of the year on the 12th of Feb followed quickly by the first mating pair on the 15th, today was the day for the first egg!

Next update when i 'hear' the pitter-patter of tiny feet!

Cheers, Ashe