hundreds of ladybirds!

[Wyrd]

I've never seen so many ladybirds as I did today here in Cardiff. They were flying around everywhere in the park and loads landed on me as I walked the dog. Incredible numbers - surely must be something to do with the weirdly warm weather lately?

Has anyone else seen huge numbers of ladybirds today?

[No.9 Spider]

Yes same in Chester area, hundreds of them and various types as well. Flying everywhere, on walls and fences and in the house. Never seen so many.

[htcdude]

There's a bit of a boom at the moment, probably the warmer weather? Last week I had dozens on the walls of my office building, and on Friday in Bucks had hundreds flying around whilst we had lunch. Every single one of them was a Harlequin Ladybird of some sort:

http://www.uksafari.com/jpeg2/ladyharlequin2.jpg

Saw several different variants of it.

Nige

[Alan Livsey]

I had loads of Harlequins on Friday when the weather was good, none today though as its been dull and overcast. I suppose they must be looking for places to hibernate at this time of year.

[Paul mabbott]

So you see why they're sometimes called 'hallowe'en beetles'?

[Billabong Karen]

Loads in both the house and the garden... I thought perhaps they had already found themselves places for winter and had come back out again in the warmer weather.