Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home!

[petermcgain]

Last autumn we had a real infestation of harlequin ladybirds covering walls, dropping into our tea, occasionally nipping us while watching the telly (perhaps wanting to change channels). Now when I'm out gardening I'm glad to say all I've seen this year (so far) are very welcome 7 spot ladybirds. What's going on? I assumed the garden was going to be overrun with harlequins. Have they all decided a typical British summer isn't for them and they've listened to the old nursery rhyme about their house being on fire and have flown away home??

[Dogghound]

They seem to disperse throughout the year and gather in their largest numbers in autumn when they are looking for a hibernation site within your home garden, they are probably still around just spread out abit more.