Basking ladybirds

[aeshna5]

As I was going around Richmond Park today I spotted a Pine Ladybird basking on a Rhododendron leaf by Pen Pond Plantation. As my partner + I looked we found 10 Pine + 18 7-spot Ladybirds sat on these leaves basking in the sunshine. A couple of the Pine Ladybirds seemed to be getting frisky chasing each other around a leaf!

[Wild-Woman]

Nice to see our native species emerging from hibernation. Would be nice if they could out-breed the Harlequins, but somehow I think its unlikely. Harlequins seem to be so prolific.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Would be nice if they could out-breed the Harlequins, but somehow I don't think its unlikely. Harlequins seem to be so prolific.

Are harlequins still prolific down south ? they have almost completely vanished from the sites I check in North and East Yorkshire.

[Geoff F]

Yes, I have seen quite a lot of basking 7 spots lately; and a few of those seem to be getting rather 'friendly' with each other.

[Jason Green]

Evening Aesh,

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Are harlequins still prolific down south ? they have almost completely vanished from the sites I check in North and East Yorkshire.

I believe I have as yet to see a Harlequin down here in London this year. I have found a Rhyzobius, 2x Ten-spotted and a few Seven-spotteds though.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Are harlequins still prolific down south ? they have almost completely vanished from the sites I check in North and East Yorkshire.

So far this year I've only seen 1 Harlequin, but have seen 7-spots at quite a lot of sites recently in the London area. Still plenty of time for the Harlequins to appear, but I don't think they've had as much of an effect down here as some would have us believe. Numbers seemed to have either stabilised or slightly down on recent years. I noticed in the most recent British Wildlife issue it was stated quite a few are now getting attacked by various parasitoids, so maybe have reached some sort of equibrium.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

So far this year I've only seen 1 Harlequin, but have seen 7-spots at quite a lot of sites recently in the London area. Still plenty of time for the Harlequins to appear, but I don't think they've had as much of an effect down here as some would have us believe. Numbers seemed to have either stabilised or slightly down on recent years. I noticed in the most recent British Wildlife issue it was stated quite a few are now getting attacked by various parasitoids, so maybe have reached some sort of equibrium.

Without doubt, in 2009 they were very abundant here, in 2010 they crashed. So far they seem none existent, good to hear it is an apparent national trend. Even whole colonies seen to have vanished.

[Andrew C]

So far I have come across Seven-spots aplenty, one Harlequin in January, an Orange Ladybird also in January, a Twenty-four Spot last week but I am searching our apple tree barks in vain for the first signs of Heather Ladybird. I am a bit over-eager after a few days of sunshine!

All in good time though.

[Lord V]

Seen loads (20 plus) of 7 spots in the garden and only a few harlequins in the garden so far (Worthing) plus a pair of mating heather ladybirds.
Brian v.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Lord V

Seen loads (20 plus) of 7 spots in the garden and only a few harlequins in the garden so far (Worthing) plus a pair of mating heather ladybirds.
Brian v.

Where were your Heather Ladybirds? I gather this species is being found increasingly on ornamental conifer species such as Leyland Cypress.