What's going on?

garethwait · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 07:41 PM

Just took this picture in my shed. Noticed lately lots of single ladybirds around my garden. Went to the shed today, and seemed to find the source! What are they doing?

Best wishes
Gareth

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 07:43 PM

They are Harlequins+ they are forming an overwintering aggregation. Many are now entering buildings, etc at the moment.

garethwait · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 09:17 PM

That's so cool! Thanks for your quick reply.

Aren't harlequins the ones that are killing off the natives? Sorry if that's a thick question!

Gareth

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 09:32 PM

Hi Gareth, and welcome to WAB

Quote:

Originally Posted by garethwait

That's so cool! Thanks for your quick reply.

Aren't harlequins the ones that are killing off the natives? Sorry if that's a thick question!

Not a thick question! Well, not entirely. They are putting pressure on the native species by competing for food and occasionally trying to eat them - but there are signs they have already peaked. Certainly on this forum there have been posts saying there has been less than in previous years, and my own observations corroborate that too.

Since they arrived here in 2004/5, there have been big drops - up to 90%, but not sure how true - in the numbers of 7 spots in local areas with the newly-arrived Harlequin, but no extinctions of individual colonies of species anywhere at all to the best of my knowledge.

I've noticed good numbers of 7-S's this year

Take care,

Jason

garethwait · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 09:38 PM

Thanks Jason!

I've never really had a garden before, and am thrilled by all this 'nature' stuff! Is there anything I should be doing with the ladybirds - or just let them get on with it? Will they just leave in the spring? Where did they come from in 2004/5? Are they immigrants or mutations? Questions questions!!

Best wishes
Gareth

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garethwait

Thanks Jason!

I've never really had a garden before, and am thrilled by all this 'nature' stuff! Is there anything I should be doing with the ladybirds - or just let them get on with it? Will they just leave in the spring? Where did they come from in 2004/5? Are they immigrants or mutations? Questions questions!!

Best wishes
Gareth

Answers answers...

Glad to hear about the garden - it's a whole new world to explore!

See Harlequin Ladybird Survey - Origins - the webmaster of the website is a member here - Paul mabbott. The answers about their arrival are through the link.

Yes, just leave them where they are. Most will survive I suspect, then leave during the spring or even go for a wander during milder Autumn/Winter days.

Feel free to stick around and ask any questions you may have, or post photos of insects/whatever for ID

Phoebe · #7 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 09:49 PM

Last week on a sunny day I noticed a ladybird on my trellis whilst hanging out my washing. I then had one land on my hand, quite large I thought. Then realised it was a Harlequin. On further investigation of the garden and the house wall there were loads of them and they were on my windows making their way into the house. As they are not native and I don't really want them in the house I evicted them one by one. I have a new dog who likes to chase and eat anything that flies or crawls, she leaps up at the wall to catch crane flies etc. it would be a nightmare with her if I had clusters in the corners! This is the first time here that I have seen more than one harlequin.

I shall now go and check out my sheds.

ChrisR · #8 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 10:47 PM

Those Harlequins get everywhere - I got my copy of the AES Bulletin today and inside the front cover was a Harlequin ladybird - squashed completely flat!

Phoebe · #9 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Those Harlequins get everywhere - I got my copy of the AES Bulletin today and inside the front cover was a Harlequin ladybird - squashed completely flat!

Lol

aeshna5 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hi Gareth, and welcome to WAB

Not a thick question! Well, not entirely. They are putting pressure on the native species by competing for food and occasionally trying to eat them - but there are signs they have already peaked. Certainly on this forum there have been posts saying there has been less than in previous years, and my own observations corroborate that too.

Since they arrived here in 2004/5, there have been big drops - up to 90%, but not sure how true - in the numbers of 7 spots in local areas with the newly-arrived Harlequin, but no extinctions of individual colonies of species anywhere at all to the best of my knowledge.

I've noticed good numbers of 7-S's this year

Take care,

Jason

This year there seem to have been very large numbers of 7-spot Ladybirds. I'm not convinced the Harlequins have had a significant effect on them. Numbers did drop for a while, but this could be due to otherr factors such as weather, lack of food (possibly weather related again), parasites, etc.

Certainly seen more Harlequins during the recent fine weather!