Harlequin Ladybird?

[Tiggrx]

Is this yet another variation of Harlequin Ladybird or is it something nice and native?

The lines on the paper are 8mm apart

Thanks
Aaron

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Is this yet another variation of Harlequin Ladybird or is it something nice and native?
The lines on the paper are 8mm apart
Thanks
Aaron

Yes. Plenty of illustrations in the thread: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ladybirds.html
Hope you'll report this - you're not in Scotland, I know!
PS: As I've said elsewhere, perhaps the most obvious and definitive feature of H. axyridis is the white patches on the pronotum/forebody which extend all the way up the sides. Also has brown legs and is large (as ladybirds go ).

[Tiggrx]

Thanks Paul,

I am getting quite used to Harlequin Ladybirds by now - there are a lot around here. But they occasionally throw up a pattern which confuses me

[harasseddad]

Oddly enough I had one suddenly pop up in my lightshade last night with exactly that pattern. It had clearly overwintered in the house - it was dusty.
Also two of the more conventional orange base colour seen on a fence in woodland on Saturday.

[bullbusbutt]

I'm hearing that the bugs we are seeing are African ladybirds however they do not look like that they have no spots are shiny backed furry legged and seem to be chomping on my washing i have never had anything eat my washing until now,i bring it in from off the line and low and behold most of it has been chomped!!!
i wil try and take a photo of the culprit as I would ike to know I'm not alone in the infestation of these bugs.
one got onto my daughters hair and was difficult to remove the thing clung on for dear life lol.
I do like nature but i hear they are eating our native ladybird this i find sad as they eat the aphids that plague my apple tree..right im going to investigate will come back and upload a pic if i can find one...lets hope they are not like bus's never one when you want one then 10 come along at once lol

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by bullbusbutt

I'm hearing that the bugs we are seeing are African ladybirds however they do not look like that they have no spots are shiny backed furry legged and seem to be chomping on my washing i have never had anything eat my washing until now,i bring it in from off the line and low and behold most of it has been chomped!!!
i wil try and take a photo of the culprit as I would ike to know I'm not alone in the infestation of these bugs.
one got onto my daughters hair and was difficult to remove the thing clung on for dear life lol.
I do like nature but i hear they are eating our native ladybird this i find sad as they eat the aphids that plague my apple tree..right im going to investigate will come back and upload a pic if i can find one...lets hope they are not like bus's never one when you want one then 10 come along at once lol

I've no idea what's eating your washing? But Harlequins originate in northern/central Asia + not Africa! Will be interested to see your photos!

[Dogghound]

If your interested its f.spectabilis

[bullbusbutt]

ive taken a couple of pictures after screaming and nearly spitting my heart on the floor...im not a bug lover im rather scared lmao...but i will try to upload them im new here and not sure how things work yet,these bugs brought me here,when i googled african ladybird it brought me to this discussion strange...thank you for not laughing at my post

[bullbusbutt]

what are they???? I cannot be certain these are responsable for eating my laundry whilst hanging on the line ,however they were hanging around on it and they wern't around in all the years my clothes were not being eaten...so i suspect these are the culprets sorry the images are not the best quality but these fly so i wont pick them up...iam to scared sorry

hope someone knopws what they are thank you

[Dogghound]

They are the harmless garden chafer Phyllopertha horticola.