ladybirds

[ann-the-nan]

Not sure if i am in the right place but can't find a suitable heading. Anyroadup, I saw a ladybird on a mallow in my border and wondered thought it may have been an Harlequin. If it were to be, what should I have done? As I had a small grandson with me, slaughter would have been out of the question. (The mini beast, that is, not William )

[zazen999]

Let it be?

[Two_Sheds]

The 'official' advice is to leave them alone, unless they are causing problems (like swarming in your loft)

[Nicos]

Not sure any more.
We were advised to kill them a few years ago to slow down their rate of invasion.
Now I think it's inevitable and peeps seem to be leaving them

Personally I'd have squashed it if I was sure it was one. They're much bigger than our native varieties.(Don't they eat the lavae of our native breed?)

If in doubt- leave well alone I reckon!

Harlequin Ladybird Survey - Recognition and Distinction

[Two_Sheds]

Not sure any more.
We were advised to kill them a few years ago to slow down their rate of invasion.

"apparently" 90% of the photos of harlequins sent to the survey in the first year, were of native ladybirds, not harlequins. So the biggest threat to our native ladybird is in fact the well-meaning but uninformed public

[ann-the-nan]

ladybirds

Thanks peeps. I wasn't sure. It wasn't particularly larger than the native one, just loads more spots.

[Nicos]

Hmm..yes there are loads of different patterns on the natives ( see my previous post) but until the 'invasion' and a bit of Googling- I only thought there were about 6 different native patterns. Just goes to show eh??

[ginger ninger]

Hi ann-the-nan here's some links to the Harlequin and UK Ladybird survey sites...I hope there helpful for you!

Harlequin Ladybird Survey - home

UK Ladybird Survey - Homepage

Also on the UK Ladybird website there's A Children's page section so your grandson can get involved, it has a Ladybird quiz, He can design his own ladybird hope its helpful for him and you.

[ann-the-nan]

ladybirds

Thanks GN. The one I saw was def. the one on the website page.
Thanks all grapes for being so helpful.

[womble]

Wow just had a look at identifying the two Harliquin LB's I saw today and they're native, Kidney LB's!!

Just shows.

[womble]

One seen (Harlequin) this morning in my porch. You should be able to zoom into it.

[Jeanied]

How do you know it's not a kidney spot, Womble? They all look so alike to me

[womble]

The kidney spots haven't got the rear two spots. Or the white eyes.

If you look at the 2nd link Ginger Ninger posted, then click on UK Ladybirds, Ladybird Identification sheet.
You can see it looks exactly like the Harlequin on it.