Harlequin ladybirds and bugbox invasions

[Elle1967]

Hi everyone,

Newbie here, looking for ideas and advice!

I've got a bug house for the garden as I'd like to give solitary bees a home predominantly, although the holes in the box make it suitable for lacewings and other small bugs such as ladybirds.

My main purpose, however, is to help the bees. With the Harlequin invasion, is there anything I can do to ensure that bees are attracted to the box and the Harlequins don't take over? They are in our area, and I've had to remove a colony twice from a windowframe in the house already.

Thoughts on when to put the box out, where best to position the box in the garden, etc. - in fact any advice to help the bees - would be most welcome

Thanks,
Elle

[Jason Green]

Hi Elle, and welcome to WAB!

Originally Posted by Elle1967

My main purpose, however, is to help the bees. With the Harlequin invasion, is there anything I can do to ensure that bees are attracted to the box and the Harlequins don't take over? They are in our area, and I've had to remove a colony twice from a windowframe in the house already.Elle

The time that the two species will be interested in it doesn't coincide as far as I am aware. The solitary bees will use it during Spring and perhaps early summer (...I have a bugbox too, with the Red Mason Bee the only species using it), and Harlequins seeking it out only as a safe place to over-winter before leaving for the spring/summer - by which time the bees will be active again and take over!

I take it your box is made up of cut canes to form cells? If so, before the spring it may be an idea to check the holes for any ladybirds that have died due to natural winter mortality rates. Perhaps particularly so if the bees have been breeding, or else the dead ones may block the young bees' exit when they come to emerge as the temperatures increase again in the spring.

It's also worth mentioning there are several forms of the Harlequin, some match pretty well the different forms of the Two and Ten-spotted Ladybird which are of course native.

As for when to put the box out, if they breed in there you will need to leave it out all year in my opinion so you don't get them emerging too early! That could be bought on by bringing it in somewhere sheltered. Position it on s fence out in the open, perhaps in a sun-lit spot, or on a tree.

Good luck!

Take care,

Jason

[Elle1967]

Hi Jason,

Thanks very much for your reply It's a brand new bug house (rather beautiful oak, with variable size canes inside), and I wasn't sure whether to put it out now for use over the winter, or instead towards spring - your advice is very helpful.

I will be sure to leave it out all year and definitely check for any departures, whether to this world as lovely new bees - or into the next

Thanks again,
Elle