Harlequins in huge numbers

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks.

Far too many Harlequins to count - certainly in the very high hundreds - perhaps even topping a thousand. These ladybirds were all in a relatively small area and were of many different Harlequin types. A lot of them were on tunnel walls (there are 5 adjacent tunnels under the A5) and many had got themselves tangled in old spider webs or were receiving the hungry attention of spiders.

I was at this same location on Monday morning and there were just the usual numbers of Harlequins around the tunnel entrances (perhaps 30ish if I'd gone looking).

Interestingly this is not the first time that I've seen very large numbers in this location. There were at least twice this number over a couple of days last year - unfortunately I don't have a record of the dates .

Bruce

[Jason Green]

Evening Bruce,

There seems to have been a bit of a spike in records, at least on WAB! I've seen more in the last month than I have all year.

I imagine they are all pre-hibernation hence the aggregations, and with natural winter mortality it shouldn't allow a new foot-hold.

Take care,

Jason

[Bruce Williams]

Jason - You could well be right about them preparing to hibernate as last winter (2009/2010) I noticed several clumps of maybe 30 to 40 tightly packed individuals per clump hibernating in this area.

Surprisingly I've not seen anywhere near as many Harlequin larvae in this area as in the previous two years.

Bruce

[aeshna5]

There was a sunny day at the beginning of the month when I saw c20 actively flying about, but few since. Certainly seeing far fewer than recent years.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Aeshna .

I've just reread my original post and realised that its a bit unclear - so just to clarify:

On Wednesday I saw maybe 800 to 1200 (so difficult to count ) Harlequins crawling on the walls outside (and just inside) the five connected tunnels running under the A5 at Stony Stratford. Two days earlier there were only the usual number (say about 30).

Bruce

[Bruce Williams]

Well I was back at the tunnels this afternoon and numbers had dropped to around 50. So they've either dispersed or move on somewhere else.

Quite large numbers of 7-spot starting to form into small groups in the various nooks and crannies of the old wooden fences. Interesting, in a few cases the odd Harlequin has clumped in with the 7-spots.

Bruce

[watsthat]

In our neck of the woods (East Yorkshire) I have`nt seen a Harlequin this year, more 7 spots than usual though.

Pete