Asian Lady Beetle

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 Sitting in a brief period of sunshine yesterday I noticed half a dozen lady beetles (one landed on my arm so they were hard to miss). I posted in March about the 7 spotted lady bird but these looked quite different. These creatures go by a number of names including the Harlequin Beetle or the Asian Lady Beetle and are not native to this country.


Identification can be tricky as there is a wide range of different colourations - however what they all have in common is a white "M" shape behind the head.

I understand that these beetles were introduced deliberately as a biological control, in the USA in the 1990's  to keep down aphid numbers. Since then the beetles appeared in Europe and by 2004 had managed to cross the English Channel (blown by the wind or introduced on plants?). Since 2004 the beetles have spread to England and Wales and are reaching Scotland. This is now apparently the most numerous lady beetle in England.
When the beetles were introduced in the USA they were thought to be "harmless" but they have outcompeted and displaced the indigenous beetles in many areas. In the Autumn these creatures seek the warmth and security of being inside buildings and can appear in swarms (indigenous equivalents don't do this). Apparently these beetles can give of a noxious substance which causes irritation to some people and if you squash them they produce a chemical which can stain the furniture and this upsets the house proud among us (not me!).
You might be interested in this article published in the Independent Newspaper earlier this month. "Independant"

                                                                                    Diary

It's been raining overnight.. not enough to make our stream run again but a lot of rain is forecast for today so we shall see. One solitary badger on the latest trail cams.

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