Hibernating masses of harlequinn ladybirds :S

[Ukwildlifeo]

I took this a couple of weeks ago in Bedfords Park vistor centre, where they have been invaded...by 1000s maybe even 10,000s of these alien invaders. There were 100s visible on the surround vegetation over the month before. This is the smallest bunch, and there huddled up in every corner. All I know is im glad im not a local native ladybird

[Paul mabbott]

I hope you're reporting this to appropriate recorder(s).

[Dogghound]

An Ever common sight

The picture show's the variability quite nicely.

[demicav]

These are becoming a real problem and it's obviously being taken seriously but I like the photo, it's really good.

[thes3raph1m]

um... you killed them all right? burn all the hibernating mases... helpout the native species

[andy50027]

Hi guys. I realise i'm a couple of years lat in posting but i found 100's of these scary looking ladybirds in our bedroom at lunch time.

I guessed they had come into hibernate?

How do i dispose / rid myself of them properly?

Help!

[Paul mabbott]

I don't see what's scary about them but clearly you don't want them in your house. The problem is that if you handle them both you and wherever they are will get covered in smelly haemolymph.
Vacuum them up and empty them out some way from the building ....

Originally Posted by andy50027

Hi guys. I realise i'm a couple of years lat in posting but i found 100's of these scary looking ladybirds in our bedroom at lunch time.

I guessed they had come into hibernate?

How do i dispose / rid myself of them properly?

Help!

[andy50027]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I don't see what's scary about them but clearly you don't want them in your house.

The black ones with red dots just didn't look right!

In the end i hoovered them up and put them as far away from the house as poss.

[Paul mabbott]

We have plenty of native black ladybirds with or without red markings!
Glad you sorted it out.

Originally Posted by andy50027

The black ones with red dots just didn't look right!

In the end i hoovered them up and put them as far away from the house as poss.

[Jenny W]

All year so far I have hardly seen any Harlequins and then recently in the last week or so there has been a sharp increase in them. Whereas, round here it has been an excellent year for native Ladybirds with huge numbers of Seven-spots in particular.

It's interesting how only now the Harlequins are coming out in any numbers. I can only guess (and hope!) that the harsh winter we had knocked them back somewhat.

Anyone else noticed this?

[Paul mabbott]

It happens every year and it's very intriguing. Lots around in October (that's why they're called the Hallowe'en Ladybird ) - November but continuing to reproduce into December in a 'good' year. Lots come into shelter to overwinter but most seem to die - which is why very few are seen in Spring or even early Summer.

This contrasts with the more common European species which only reproduce once, reaching peak numbers in early/mid-Summer.

Why so many 'harlequins' fail to survive the winter is something of a mystery - observations of mass deaths would be useful.

Originally Posted by Jenny W

All year so far I have hardly seen any Harlequins and then recently in the last week or so there has been a sharp increase in them. Whereas, round here it has been an excellent year for native Ladybirds with huge numbers of Seven-spots in particular.

It's interesting how only now the Harlequins are coming out in any numbers. I can only guess (and hope!) that the harsh winter we had knocked them back somewhat.

Anyone else noticed this?

[Jenny W]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

It happens every year and it's very intriguing. Lots around in October (that's why they're called the Hallowe'en Ladybird ) - November but continuing to reproduce into December in a 'good' year. Lots come into shelter to overwinter but most seem to die - which is why very few are seen in Spring or even early Summer.

Ah, thanks for that, it is intriguing indeed - I guess I'd just noticed it more this year for some reason.

In 2007 though I was working at a nature reserve in Lincolnshire and they were everywhere all summer

[Jason Claxton]

" The Halloween Ladybird,"hah,yeh the timing is right,and also it fits the bad press and the fear for British species that came with that.Most ladybirds are named descriptively,such as 7 spot,2 spot,14 spot etc.If we named ladybirds after when they appeared we might have names such as the Michelmas Ladybird,that sounds nice at least

[lilith]

I have a ever increasing group of ladybirds in my bathroom , what shall I do with them? I don t believe in killing anything so,confused help?

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Lilith,I would capture them in a jar and take them away from your house,and then they will come back in,and then you will put them out again...and so on until they get tired.Jason

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by lilith

I have a ever increasing group of ladybirds in my bathroom , what shall I do with them? I don t believe in killing anything so,confused help?

If there are a lot then use a vacuum cleaner - they will secrete smelly and staining haemolymph if you handle them ...... or, I suppose, wear gloves!