Harlequin ladybirds
This handsome insect is a Harlequin ladybird and is a non-native species which originates from Asia. The Harlequin is larger than our native ladybirds and can be found with 100 different colour patterns, spread over 40 different species. Some have up to 19 black spots on a red or orange base, others have two or four red spots on a black base. It was introduced to some countries to keep aphids under control.
It wasn’t deliberately introduced to the UK but was first found around 2004 and has rapidly become one of the dominant ladybird species in the country. It is now wide spread in England & Wales and is spreading into Scotland. It is a voracious predator and can out-compete our native species for aphid-prey. It also eats the eggs & larvae of other species of ladybird, butterflies and moths as well as taking other small insects. It is also be cannibalistic.
The concern is that it will out-compete some of our native species and lead to a decline in their numbers. The jury is still out on this issue. While some species of ladybird are adversely impacted by the presence of the Harlequin other species are able to co-exist alongside them.
It wasn’t deliberately introduced to the UK but was first found around 2004 and has rapidly become one of the dominant ladybird species in the country. It is now wide spread in England & Wales and is spreading into Scotland. It is a voracious predator and can out-compete our native species for aphid-prey. It also eats the eggs & larvae of other species of ladybird, butterflies and moths as well as taking other small insects. It is also be cannibalistic.
The concern is that it will out-compete some of our native species and lead to a decline in their numbers. The jury is still out on this issue. While some species of ladybird are adversely impacted by the presence of the Harlequin other species are able to co-exist alongside them.