Harlequin Ladybirds

mrs fish · #1 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 07:00 AM

I saw a Harlequin walk across the living room ceiling on Sunday evening !!

Nettle Runner · #2 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 07:21 PM

I had a look in my garden on Sunday and found one Harlequin Larvae and two ladybirds which I am not sure of.

These were the only ones to be seen.

Les

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 07:46 PM

The top is a Harlequin- 1 of the succinea forms. The bottom I'm presuming is much smaller + looks like a 10-spot to me.

Paul mabbott · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 04:34 PM

Anyone interested in a summary of the history, spread and biology of H. axyridis might be interested in this: http://www.bioforsk.no/dok/senter/ph...et_al_2007.pdf

Reached Norway last year. Any still being found in UK?

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 04:41 PM

Oddly,this year I've not seen half so many as the year before. No big congregations and only singletons in my area. Perhaps there hasn't been that many other insects this year to eat?
I suppose the less we see them the better though. Just a question Paul, can they be parastitised and if so, would a parasitoid have caught up with them yet?

Ukwildlifeo · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 04:51 PM

There is a mass of harlequins in the bedfords park visitor centre again this year, but there are far less than last year, when there was an adult or larva on every leaf of the large nettle patch nearby. So hopefully less of them next year

Paul mabbott · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Oddly,this year I've not seen half so many as the year before. No big congregations and only singletons in my area. Perhaps there hasn't been that many other insects this year to eat?
I suppose the less we see them the better though. Just a question Paul, can they be parastitised and if so, would a parasitoid have caught up with them yet?

They have (but not often) been parasitied by Dinocampus coccinellae as would be expected but it doesn't seem to have much effect. Other observations have been made - I'll be up-dating various things next week so I'll keep you informed!

thunder · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 09:37 PM

I had a Harlequin flying round the room as I read yesterday evening

henrya

Highland Damsel · #9 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 10:09 PM

Paul

Was at an invasive species meeting today and the harlequin ladybird was mentioned, even though we have no records here it was on the to look out for list. I remembered something i had heard earlier this year that a good time and place to look for them was on new years day on windows. Is this true and why?

B.

Paul mabbott · #10 (**permalink**) 11-11-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highland Damsel

Paul

Was at an invasive species meeting today and the harlequin ladybird was mentioned, even though we have no records here it was on the to look out for list. I remembered something i had heard earlier this year that a good time and place to look for them was on new years day on windows. Is this true and why?

B.

I've not heard that one! The best time indoors is now - as soon as the weather starts cooling the large summer populations try to find somewhere warmer - some USAmericans call them 'halloween beetles'.

When hey do come into houses for the winter they may well find a hiding place so that no one sees them. When the days get lighter from January onwards they do revive and sometimes try to escape for windows that are shut ....

Paul mabbott · #11 (**permalink**) 13-11-2008, 05:17 PM

Having said that, I spent a few hours in London yesterday searching for ladybirds and found only two pupae (one Harmonia axyridis, one Exochomus quadripustulatus) and a few harlequin exuvia ....
So, this year there are really rather few of any species about!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I've not heard that one! The best time indoors is now - as soon as the weather starts cooling the large summer populations try to find somewhere warmer - some USAmericans call them 'halloween beetles'.

When hey do come into houses for the winter they may well find a hiding place so that no one sees them. When the days get lighter from January onwards they do revive and sometimes try to escape for windows that are shut ....

Paul mabbott · #12 (**permalink**) 26-03-2009, 05:27 PM

First Harmonia axyridis I've seen in Sheffield this year: a melanic and a succinea huddling under flakes of bark in the chill wind! Plenty have been seen elsewhere in the country, I gather but perhaps not as many as in some springs .....

Paul mabbott · #13 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 06:17 PM

We've not had much correspondence on this topic recently (people getting bored?

) but I have yet to see a living Harmonia axyridis this year. Haven't seen that many ladybirds at all .... mostly larvae at present so I suspect that their life cycle is just delayed after the cold winter.