Ladybirds

[Amelie]

Does anyone on this forum know anything about the habits of ladybirds? Yes, it's an odd question but ever since moving into my 'upper ground floor' flat there have been at least 6 ladybirds camped in the corners of my kitchen ceiling throughout the winter. They have started getting cocky now and are colonising other parts of the flat, and even managing to find their way into my sealed sugar jar; where they are inconsiderate enough to die - presumably of sugar overload. Not the sort of thing you want to find in your teaspoon first thing in the morning, or floating in the tea either.

My mother suggests that they are a sign of good luck, but when they start crawling across the mouse mat or trying to immolate themselves when I'm cooking they're just a bleeding nuisance.

I should say I have both kinds of ladybirds too: red with several black spots, and black with 2 red spots, and they breed as I often find teeny tiny ladybirds, which are admittedly quite cute. There are no roses growing in the flat, or outside for that matter, and I have not noticed any aphids lurking about the place either so I don't know what it is that they eat or where they are getting in.

Any suggestions (preferably informative and funny all at the same time) gratefully received.

[SimonM]

Have a look at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3715120.stm

[clare]

Amelie- I know that ladybirds like hibernating in window frames and things so they are probably waking up. No idea why they are in your sugar jar though!

There is a new larger agressive ladybird that has arrived in the UK - called the harlequin ladybird that is a threat to our existing ladybirds- I think they have 7 spots but maybe you could swing by the London Wildlife Centre (Marsden Road, off Ondine Road) and talk to them. They will know exactly how to advise you!

Good luck!

[batdog]

Luck?

Ladybirds are usally believed to bring good luck... (tu)

[mockney piers]

Aah, but these are evil johnny foreigner ladybirds, so no good luck.

And they bite (in the literal, not canadian sense of the word)

[Domitianus]

I know a little about the habits of ladybirds and it's not a pretty story. Fornicating, burping, farting, picking their noses and staying out all night! Well, I never did!

[Michael Palaeologus]

They eat black-fly.

They taste nasty - childhood memory.

[mockney piers]

anybody know who this little fella is? I've not spotted his like before.

 

[*Bob*]

Yes.. our gaff is literally heaving with them at the moment. And they all look like that one.

[downsouth]

I have tonnes. Every coupple of weeks about 30 decide to invite themselves in - I blame those damn rose bushes (6)

[Brendan]

I like ladybirds. I like watching the ongoing war between them and the ants that is played out on my rose bushes.

The aphids eat the rose leaves and the ants ?farm? the aphids for their ?milk?. The ladybirds try to eat the aphids and are in a constant battle with the ants. It?s fascinating I sometimes watch them for hours.

[Huguenot]

Well I reckon that's either the melanic (black) version of the common two spot, or....

...a b@stard yank Harlequin variant over here to drink our beer and steal our women.

I don't think it's a pine ladybird as the dome isn't high enough, and the head isn't squat enough, but you pays your money and you takes your choices