Two Spot Ladybird Endangered?

[ladybirdluva]

I was reading last night on a website that there was a sexually transmitted infection that was common in the two spot, and in some areas of europe more then 90% of them were infected by it, and it leaves them infertile!!

Now i hardly evre seem to see any two spots around now, i saw one today (well kind of a "four spot) because it was black) and one a couple of days ago, and loads of harlequins ... and as i have read elsewhere they are threatening all of the english species.

i have always loved ladybirds ... is there anything one can practically do, to protect the two spot from becoming endangered or even extinct, apart from killing the harlequins? Is there some kind of vaccine one can give them??

[Paul mabbott]

The diseases of ladybirds are not a recent phenomenon. The main reason for increased incidence in 2-spots, Adalia bipunctata, is climate change. The diseases are sexually transmitted which did not used to be a problem because ladybirds lived for less than twelve months - infections seldom passed from one generation to another. However, in urban areas, with shorter winters and warmer springs there is now commonly an overlapping of generations so that one years generation can survive and mate with newly emerged members of the next generation. Nothing to be done about it other than to reduce our carbon usage .....

Originally Posted by ladybirdluva

I was reading last night on a website that there was a sexually transmitted infection that was common in the two spot, and in some areas of europe more then 90% of them were infected by it, and it leaves them infertile!!

Now i hardly evre seem to see any two spots around now, i saw one today (well kind of a "four spot) because it was black) and one a couple of days ago, and loads of harlequins ... and as i have read elsewhere they are threatening all of the english species.

i have always loved ladybirds ... is there anything one can practically do, to protect the two spot from becoming endangered or even extinct, apart from killing the harlequins? Is there some kind of vaccine one can give them??

[ladybirdluva]

OK cool, so it's a climate related thing then? Is it something that threatens their survival in the long term, or just unfortunate? xx

[Dogghound]

2 Spots do spread alot of male killing bacteria as well as sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases are usually actually sexually transmitted parasites such as Coccipolipus hippodamiae a continental species that causes female infertility. These can cause considerable damage, as paul says the overlapping generations and warmer winters are making life hard for this species. I have seen far fewer this year although the problem is far worse abroad.

The two spot Adalia bipunctata has several dependant species so if it went we would loose these, they include two species of parasitic wasp, three species of parasitic fly, a nematode worm, a sexually-transmitted mite (as stated above), a sexually-transmitted fungus and four species of bacteria.

[Bramble]

Strange - the two-spot is the one I see most of in any given year. Perhpas our winters are not yet warm enough for the overlapping generations

[Dogghound]

Alot depends on your location, the two most abundant species i have found this year are 7 and 16 spots. Different areas/habitats have different ladybird populations. A southern city will be different to a scottish mountainside.

[Paul mabbott]

This is a reference to the venereal disease: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | London ladybirds top sex disease league

2-spots are really a very urban species in contrast to 7-spots which are largely rural. Don't ask me why - I've been trying to think of a decent explanation for years!

As Dogghound points out, there are habitat specialisations amongst ladybird as well as geographical one - you will find most in SE England but you won't find the 24-spot unless you have grass and you'll seldom find the Eyed unless you have pines ....

Originally Posted by Bramble

Strange - the two-spot is the one I see most of in any given year. Perhpas our winters are not yet warm enough for the overlapping generations

[ladybirdluva]

ok, so would you say they are in danger of becoming endangered Paul? I really hope not.

I have found the twenty four spot quite a few times because we have a lot of grass and a very big garden

[Paul mabbott]

It seems unlikely that the 2-spot will become extinct, even locally but most likely they will be in very reduced numbers.

I would think the most threatened species will be the relatively rare ones with localised habitats - I'm thinking especially of the five spot but perhaps also the 11-spot and the Adonis' .... pure speculation at the moment.

Originally Posted by ladybirdluva

ok, so would you say they are in danger of becoming endangered Paul? I really hope not.

I have found the twenty four spot quite a few times because we have a lot of grass and a very big garden

[ladybirdluva]

OK that's good then

I've never seen a five spot. Don't they live on marshes and stuff?

I saw what i think was an adonis's ladybird the other day - a whole bunch of them on this one leaf near my mum's place. I'd never seen them before. Not sure though, it might just have been a ten spot or something but I don't know.

How do you tell the difference between the eleven spot and the harlequin (the orange/red version of it?)

It would be such a shame if they were to die out - guess we have to do what we can in terms of monitoring them x