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Now well into August and still not a single ladybird has been seen in my garden all year.
Yet last year there were thousands of them.
Perhaps they were the dreaded 'Harlequin', but I didn't think there would be many of them so far north (Fife) yet.

Anyone else had none ?

Have you got plenty of places for them to stay? I would imagine that the Harlequin will nest in the same places as native species - so even if your lot have been decimated by Harlequins, you should still have some on the plot.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

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i've only seen one, i put it on my rose bush to eat the greenfly, then it cleared off ..... but then i haven't seen many nasty bugs either, the occasional butterfly a few hover flies and some bumble bees ...... maybe its cos my garden is new to having flowers in it?

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None in Angus either,not seen much of their food either,I put it down to the "stair rods" we've had recently.

we have had loads of bees and hoverflies but ive seen only 1 lacewing and 3 ladybirds.

we have had loads of green and blackfly tho

Here in the east midlands we have come across very few ladybirds, greenfly arrived on lupins late last month, dahlias have been covered in blackfly, plenty of bumble bees, no honey bees which is worrying, and only a handful of butterflies.

As a kid I remember lots of butterflies in our garden, and sorry to say used to play a game with them armed with a badminton racket....

Plenty of ants this year too.

I guess the biggest worry should be the honey bees don`t you think?

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We've only had a couple of ladybirds in the garden so far this year. I have a ladybird tower for them & lots of flowers & shrubs etc. but the ladybirds seem to have diappeared . I think it probably has something to do with the awful summer we had last year as there's been a shortage of butterflies too, hopefully they might increase again next year.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Only seen one......

In the last couple of days, the ladybird population has exploded (on my patch). I think the early larvae have just turned into adults ... they're almost at plague proportions.

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Are you all seeing many aphids though? I haven't seen many ladybirds either but not many aphids. Maybe this is due to the amount of pesticides that are used (not by me) these days, maybe its killing the ladybird food off and therefore less ladybirds? or it might be killling the ladybirds too?

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A closed mouth gathers no feet

Bad crop = it's the weather's fault, Good crop = Green fingers - Hmm

Earlier this year there were aphids everywhere.
Probably more than normal, so that,s not the reason.
Last year my garden had thousands of lady birds, and that was even before the aphids emerged. Also I'd say there is less pesticide being used now in gardens, not more.

I haven't seen any ladybirds this year - but then I've no aphids for them. Butterflies have been few and far between - if you don't count the cabbage whites. Plenty of them fluttering about.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

yesterday I noticed ONE ladybird on one of my terracotta pots and I started thinking about this thread - and yes there haven't been many around - however this morning I found another one in my bathroom - if I could work out how to post photos I would've put one on! Still working it out!

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"A cat sees no good reason why it should obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs."

Hadn't really thought about it- but now I do....only about 4 all year. That's not good is it??

I am finding more and more ladybirds on my plot: they're emerging everywhere, on all kinds of plant.
I don't use any kind of bug spray against aphids, I just squish any large out-of-control colonies, thereby leaving enough food for ladybirds to survive. No aphids = no ladybirds.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Only seen two ladybirds this year. Lots of butterflies.

we were just talking about this at the weekend and havent seen a single ladybird this year, last year wasnt as many either, but the year before was thousands....apparantly they only come out in force when theres a good summer coming......something to think about

I had thousands of ladybirds and their larvae last year and this year I was beginning to wonder where they had all gone, but about a month ago, there seemed to be a population explosion and now I can hardly take a step without seeing at least a dozen - and that's throughout the 5 acres, not just certain areas or crops.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

I found one yesterday on a stinging nettle. Thats all I`ve seen.

ive had loads of ladybirds but a lot more cabbage white and flea beetle !

Been very short so far but today I saw 3.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

I've still only seen the one but loads of bumble bees, and fruit flies and a few cabbage whites..... not much else though, i'm wondering if it's partly down to them digging up the waste ground at the back, and removing the trees and undergrowth, that can't have done the populations much good round here i guess.

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http://teachy.myminicity.com please visit my town and make it better

http://quiz.ravenblack.net/blood.pl?biter=teach_me please sign up to be a vampire, i get 10 pints of blood if you do, and it's fun as well ....... i have an interactive map if anyone wants it.

I've not seen any ladybirds this year either. Hopefully TwoShed and Rats Ladybird population explosion may predict an Indian Summer?

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I can't speak for Rat, but I think mine like my approach to bugs* ... don't annihilate all the aphids with Bug Spray, because the ladybirds need something to eat

* squish them with fingers if they get out of control, otherwise leave them be for the ladybirds to deal with, in the hope that Nature will find a balance of pest and predator

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi