deformed ladybirds

[flowerfairy]

Hi

I have a "ladybird kit" that I use to show children at preschool/primary school the life cycle of ladybirds. I have used it before with good results, but of the ones that are hatching out today/yesterday, a number have mis-shapen wing cases that are twisted and sticking up.

Was just wondering - is this common but those ladybirds don't usually survive long enough for us to see them in the wild? Could it be due to a virus/bacterium? Something about the conditions they have been kept in (standard indoor house - no chemical sprays, not in direct sunlight)? Just a bad batch?

I notice one hasn't even managed to get out of it's pupa, it started emerging last night but appears to be dead today. Is there anything I can do to increase the survival rate and health?

They came from Belgium - I have been told that all ladybird larvae that you can buy come from there, but I don't understand why they have to be shipped so far, surely someone in this country can breed them successfully? The first batch I had a couple of years ago were standard red 2 spots, but since then they all seem to be the melanistic form.

Thanks.

[Beekeeper]

I have no clue as to your problem but i do think it a bad idea to import them, especially if they are showing signs of illness, all it would take is one ladybird infected with an illness being released into the wild to maybe wipeout our entire population of these lovely little insects.

This almost happened a few years ago when the varroa mite was imported with some honey bees used for breeding purposes, result, three quarters of our entire honey bee population died and even today there is no cure for this parasitic bug.

All these type of imports should be banned in my opinion.


Ian

[flowerfairy]

Yes, I don't really understand why they are imported as there is clearly a demand for ladybird larvae and they are advertised in many gardening catalogues and educational packs for schools. We have the right conditions for them to breed here where they are native, so I do not know why they are imported.

A healthy, well-formed looking one has hatched out this morning, and I am wondering if perhaps the food they are supplied with is not sufficient for the larvae to grow big enough before they pupate, as some of the pupae look a little thin.

Think maybe I will stick to encouraging the ones already in my garden to breed. Shame for the children though, as I think it's important for them to become aware of our wildlife and lifecycles and this sort of thing really encourages them to take an interest in nature.

[jaguarondi]

Did you give them any extra water (i.e. above what they obtained from their food)? For the few creatures I have reared this was considered an important factor.

[whaleomeloette]

keep he humidity fairly high- same happens with:
moths,
mantids
stickinsects etc
if they arent humid when hatching they end up all crippley
if you google up mantis sheding or something you should find some info

[Paul mabbott]

The usual cause for this is that the pupae are not firmly attached to the substrate and when trying to pull themselves out the imagines (adults) cannot exert any pressure. Have you removed or loosened pupae from whatever they are attached to?

Other possibilities are being too dry/hot but you have said that they are not in direct sunlight &c.

Originally Posted by flowerfairy

Hi

I have a "ladybird kit" that I use to show children at preschool/primary school the life cycle of ladybirds. I have used it before with good results, but of the ones that are hatching out today/yesterday, a number have mis-shapen wing cases that are twisted and sticking up.

Was just wondering - is this common but those ladybirds don't usually survive long enough for us to see them in the wild? Could it be due to a virus/bacterium? Something about the conditions they have been kept in (standard indoor house - no chemical sprays, not in direct sunlight)? Just a bad batch?

I notice one hasn't even managed to get out of it's pupa, it started emerging last night but appears to be dead today. Is there anything I can do to increase the survival rate and health?

They came from Belgium - I have been told that all ladybird larvae that you can buy come from there, but I don't understand why they have to be shipped so far, surely someone in this country can breed them successfully? The first batch I had a couple of years ago were standard red 2 spots, but since then they all seem to be the melanistic form.

Thanks.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by whaleomeloette

keep he humidity fairly high- same happens with:
moths,
mantids
stickinsects etc
if they arent humid when hatching they end up all crippley
if you google up mantis sheding or something you should find some info

Get the humidity too high and they will go mouldy. I've reared lots of ladybirds without humidifying and generally get fewer deformities than found in wild populations.

[whaleomeloette]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Get the humidity too high and they will go mouldy. I've reared lots of ladybirds without humidifying and generally get fewer deformities than found in wild populations.

same wth leaf insects- thats why i said fairly high, not soaking- or they will go mouldy

[flowerfairy]

Thank you all

The pupae were attached to the netting of the container and to a piece of paper, they were all intact, I didn't move any.

Hadn't thought of extra water to drink, good point, I just followed the instructions

Yes, I used to keep stick insects and remember spraying them, but didn't do this for the ladybirds as worried they might go mouldy.

2 have hatched out ok - one melanistic, one a normal 2 spot. The one with the twisted wing is still alive at the moment and feeding on the blackfly that I have put in.

Will release them by the weekend.

[posie]

..Will the one with the twisted wing be able to fly ok, or will it not be able to control the direction of it's flightpath? And if the problem is genetic, and it has come in from abroad, should it be released here to breed...? I am only a learner so please bear with me if these are silly questions........Posie