[starmoonlilly]

Is it just my area or has anyone else noticed a huge amount of ladybirds hatching? I counted at least 50 yesterday alone with still lots more waiting to emerge.

Sooo pleased to say they are all native so far      Fantastic!!

Downside.....I have virtually no aphid in my garden (Im organic, so havent killed them off by chemical warfare) what will the poor ladybirds do. I may need to find and bring in some greenfly for them

 :shock:

I hope it wont be a repeat of 1976 when people were getting bitten by our lovelies. Does anyone remember that year?

[richyrich7]

Yep remember '76 well, 10 yr old I was.

Not noticed a large number of ladybirds yet, send them my way I've loads of aphids on my lettuce    I they can't find enough food they will just move on.

[WG.]

You could sell them to infowarrior SML  

[brinylon]

Can I have some then (see post fairies and ladybirds - mine are losing battle against aphids). I will wait a few days and see what happens in my area.

[Annie]

Where about in the midlands are you?I have seen about 3 ladybirds all year and use no sprays etc.I can supply aphids and have room for ladybirds! A touch of envy here! :mrgreen:

[ziggywigs]

Cor i remember '76 and all those ladybirds.

I noticed on Saturday a lot of ladybirds as the weather was nice....although not  plague proportions there were more than normal.

[666]

I wasn't even I thought in my parents minds!   :oops:

[crowndale]

I remember '76 well, was rather hot as I recall!  We had a barbie the night it rained for the first time in weeks and my parents and their friends went out to dance in the rain.  simple times and pleasures!!!   I was 15 so highly embarrassed by my parents antics.

[percy thrower's cat]

i have hundreds of ladybirds. unfortunately the majority are not natives. i had a look on a ladybird site and isentified them as harlequins. i informed the people about the explosion in numbers and they never got back to me. wwaht's the done thing here? are they that bad?

[Welsh Girls Allotment]

I counted 23 ladybirds on roughly 30 broadbeans plants last week most were getting aquainted with each other - looked a quite precarious job    and the others were munching the blackfly - definately an explosion down here  

harlequins are evil bullies and pick on our native ladybids and eventually destroy them :cry:

[ziggywigs]

I remember '76 well, was rather hot as I recall!  We had a barbie the night it rained for the first time in weeks and my parents and their friends went out to dance in the rain.  simple times and pleasures!!!   I was 15 so highly embarrassed by my parents antics.

Teehee Crowndale i misread your post and as it was more fondues than bbq's in the 70's i thought you meant the doll as in Barbie and Ken! :shock:

Think i need more hols!  

[percy thrower's cat]

so welsh girl do you suggest i stand up for the local ladybirds and kill some of the harlequins? i've thought about it, but it's a tough question.

[ziggywigs]

Hi PT cat....see this link Harlequin Ladybird Survey you may get some more info.  

Oh and watch out 'cos they bite.

[percy thrower's cat]

cheers ziggy, i filled out their questionaire a wwhile back. there's no actual info on whaat to do. i'll cahse it up aand let you know.

[Welsh Girls Allotment]

I'll have a look around on some other sites I frequent for info, I seem to remember something about sending them off for analysis so that the numbers could be calculated but I will do some reading for definate facts and post the relevant info before you start stamping on them !!!!