Harlequin Ladybirds

[wetlands_wedge]

Hiya!
Could somebody please enlighten me as to the situation concerning the status of the Harlequin Ladybird? Is it considered a pest? Should we be trying to eradicate them if found? Are we supposed to notify somebody if we see them?
All information gladly received.

All the very best,
WW

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by wetlands_wedge

Hiya!
Should we be trying to eradicate them if found?

something Ive often wondered. Now more than ever, since the clutch of ladybird eggs I saved and reared in my tank turned out to be harlequins and I now have several larva running around and don't know what to do with them

Originally Posted by wetlands_wedge

Are we supposed to notify somebody if we see them?

these folks Harlequin Ladybird Survey - home

[aeshna5]

They are an undesirable species that shouldn't be here, though I'm not sure how much evidence there is yet of negative effects they are causing on native species- maybe Paul will know more here.

At least in parts of the south they are so common + widespread the effects of a few people killing them would have no effect on the population at all which makes it a rather futile exercise.

What we have is an ecological experience unfolding. Best thing people can do is to continue to monitor + submit records of all ladybirds to the recording scheme.

I have to say as an aside it is an attractive beast like so many of these invaders!

[Paul mabbott]

There's a lot on this in the earlier thread:
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ladybirds.html

Basically, as Aeshna says - there is no way to stop them now so the important thing is to record observations of all ladybirds so that we can see what is happening and if there is anyway we can protect native species.

It's too soon to draw any conclusions ...

Originally Posted by wetlands_wedge

Hiya!
Could somebody please enlighten me as to the situation concerning the status of the Harlequin Ladybird? Is it considered a pest? Should we be trying to eradicate them if found? Are we supposed to notify somebody if we see them?
All information gladly received.

All the very best,
WW

[wetlands_wedge]

Hiya!
Many thanks for your answers and Links. Most helpful.

All the very best,
WW

[Carole]

Hi, The dreaded Harlequins are back again in Kinver, Nr Stourbridge, West Midlands. They are appearing in such vast numbers from around the window frame that my granddaughter is refusing to sleep here until they are gone

I read somewhere that these creatures find their way back to previous hibernation sites by smell. If this is true is there anything we can use to get rid of this smell in time for Autumn?
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Cheers, Carole

[Africa]

In my garden today there were 12 7-spots to 1 Harlequin.