Harlequins under attack?

[jezlee]

I came across this article the other day:

Nature 'fighting back' against predator Ladybirds - Yorkshire Evening Post

Do any WAB members have any more information on this?

[Paul mabbott]

I've been looking for a long time and have found nothing yet!

As it says, it's easy enough to do - take a few sample pupae preferably from a site where there are lots of ladybirds, put them in a clear plastic container in a place that's not too hot and see what emerges! A word of warning, don't try and detach the pupae from the substrate, you're quite likely to rip the innards out. Either cut out a piece of leaf or, if it's on a trunk, slice off a piece of bark using a very sharp knife.

[Jason Green]

Evening Jez,

I had no idea about this - so thanks for letting us know. A well-written article I thought too.

I may just try your experiment Paul - but would we be breaking Defra's law about the release of non-native species should they be unaffected? I suppose though, we

Take care,

Jason