Dead ladybird and aphids...

[loripo]

Saw this today - on a rubbish bin lid (I dont go round looking too closely at those!)



I thought I saw the ladybird moving but that may have been the aphids, they were swarming all over it. All over the top of the bin lid, more than one type and a small red spider(not a velvet mite - this had a spherical body)
Whats going on?

[Jason Green]

Evening Lori,

I can only presume. Well, if the Harlequin wasn't moving too much I assume it was dead. H's often tend to end up covered in honeydew residue which was an attractant to the aphids - hence their arrival. Now, one of the aphids sensed the threat from the spider, and I believe they emit a certain smell when alarmed. This may have sent the other aphids into a mating frenzy, and so they appeared to be running all over the dead ladybird. As I say, just conjecture there!

Take care,

Jason

[Paul mabbott]

Perhaps the ladybird was just resting or perhaps it thought it had found a nice place to overwinter. The only way we would know is if you made further observations .....

[loripo]

I had a quick visit today - and no ladybird. So it may have fallen off or moved elsewhere. There were large numbers around today - all over the paths, so many were getting squashed. We even had them in dozens on our outside (concrete)staircase - all sizes.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by loripo

I had a quick visit today - and no ladybird. So it may have fallen off or moved elsewhere. There were large numbers around today - all over the paths, so many were getting squashed. We even had them in dozens on our outside (concrete)staircase - all sizes.

I was near Wandsworth Common today + in the warm sunshine this afternoon I saw more Harlequins than for a while, though I'm only talking a dozen or so. I think a couple were newly emerged as the elytra hadn't taken on any spotting yet; also a some very spotty succinea + at least 1 melanic spectabilis.

[JRsbugs]

I doubt the 'aphids' are aphids, they are not in the habit of 'swarming'. More likely bug nymphs or something else.

Harlequins are still thin on the wall here, I see one or two but have seen three maximum. Last night one was crawling inside next to my kitchen window which is on the south side, I thought it would go behind the wall cupboard but it flew to the other east window and I lost sight of it! A week or so ago I saw one in the bathroom, today only one outside so that's my three.

Janet

[loripo]

There were at least two types of nymphs there today, v.small, less than 2 mm, one a shield bug. This bin is under trees and pretty dented. None of the others had more than one or two ladybirds - they seemed to be staying on the benches and fence posts. When I saw the 'dead' one there must have been 50-70 tiny insects around in an area about 18" dia. Here's a couple of the ladybirds, one not yet with spots, and one trying to fit into a crevice. A lot were flying too which I dont usually notice.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

I doubt the 'aphids' are aphids, they are not in the habit of 'swarming'. More likely bug nymphs or something else.

They look like aphids. Also there are large numbers of them walking around - especially near trees with fallen leaves - the aphids are looking for somewhere fresh!

[Paul mabbott]

[quote=loripo;553998]......., one not yet with spots, .............

I think that's as many spots as it's going to get. These few-spotted individuals are common early in the year but quite rare now. The number of spots on the succinea form can vary between 0 and 27. These lateral spots are the ones left when spot number approaches nothingness!

[loripo]

Somewhere fresh like a rubbish bin... That one I thought had still to get spots was looking very transparent, similar to a couple that I kept earlier in the year as larvae, when they were newly emerged. Is it very late for there to be so many larvae still about?