The ubiquious Harlequin?

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by SpikyPhasmid

Ooh, thanks. I really need an insect book so I'm beter at figuring these things out.

Insects of Britain and Western Europe by Michael Chinery

ISBN 970-7136-7239-8

This in my opinion is by far the best general insect identification book.

[Dillybythesea]

Am wondering if you reported the harlequins at >
Harlequin Ladybird Survey - home
because they do seem very keen to hear about all sightings?

And re Wales, looking at the (admittedly july 2009) map at the above site, it does look as though the relentless creep hasn't quite crept that far (yet?).

Here in our bit of the south, even miles from town, we do seem to get rather a lot of harlequins. Hmmmm, Dill

[threadspider]

There is a mixture of Harlequin and native here in North Wilts. The garden has good colonies of 2 and 7 Spot but my allotment, 10 minutes walk away majors in Harlequins. There were cartloads eating blackfly on the broads beans in June.

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Are you quite rural Gerel? Harlequins tend to be very urban or suburban (including parks) I have found very few away from built up areas. They are very fond of sycamore which is to be expected due to the large amounts of aphids it attracts. Any lowland urban area particularly in the south with sycamore is likely to have these.

Im not to sure if they are having the effect on our native species that was first feared. Im sure i read somewhere there is even evidence of local declines in some areas.

About as rural as you can get in England and Wales (I've been to more isolated bits of Scotland though). Nearest village is a place called Llawr y Glyn, if you you look it up on Google maps it gives you an idea of how populated this area is.

[Dogghound]

Looks like it could be a while until you see one in your area. They may never completely colonize this area.