ladybirds help

[gilbert89]

hello,
i was woundering wheather anyone would know about ladybirds every night one or two appear out of nowhere always when i cook, mostly the black ones but some red and i cant find where they are coming from. i was woundering, if they were harmful, and where would they like to live/hibinate? The thing that i find strange is my kitchen is freezing and i don't know how they can survive this cold winter?
Thanks if someone could would be great as i'm terrified of them.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by gilbert89

hello,
i was woundering wheather anyone would know about ladybirds every night one or two appear out of nowhere always when i cook, mostly the black ones but some red and i cant find where they are coming from. i was woundering, if they were harmful, and where would they like to live/hibinate? The thing that i find strange is my kitchen is freezing and i don't know how they can survive this cold winter?
Thanks if someone could would be great as i'm terrified of them.

Chances are they are Harlequin Ladybirds, which come in three basic colour variations in this country. As you say two of the variations are black backgrounded. They tend to hibernate around windows in houses but could turn up anywhere. At work they spend the winter in the bottom of our litter bins in their hundreds. They aren't harmful to people, only the things they eat.

Cheers,

Adam

[gilbert89]

thanks for that would it be the heat from the cooker making them move then? otherwise thought they would b hibinating?

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by gilbert89

thanks for that would it be the heat from the cooker making them move then? otherwise thought they would b hibinating?

As Adam says, no reason at all to be terrified.
Yes, they are probably trying to hibernate in an air vent, a window frame or who knows but warming the atmosphere will wake them up, as it were. Best thing is to thorw them out into a shed or a dry place in a hedgerow.