Mmm. That sounds spooky, doesn’t it? And rightly so …
One day last week, we had just set out with the dogs on their morning walk, when I saw this ladybird sitting on the side of our house. Naturally, I asked OH to hold the dogs while I got a picture.
It took a while because each time I got close, the darned thing flew off and settled somewhere else, and in fact I was just about to give up when he kindly allowed me to take my shot. By this time I was breathing a little fast due to having run up and down the drive a few times chasing him, and that may account for the poor quality. Sorry about that.
Anyway. I sent a picture to Babs of Beetle Blog, because I know how she loves ladybirds, and this one was quite unusual. As you see, instead of the familiar red wing cases with black spots - or even the yellow wing cases with black spots, he has black ones, with only two dark red spots which are rather large and badly formed.
Now ladybirds do vary a great deal, and almost all of them can sport a melanic variant which results in the normal colouring being reversed. You can even find yellow or red ladybirds with their spots ringed with white - sort of like a leopard - these are called ‘eyed’ ladybirds, and I wouldn’t be too surprised to find a black version of those! So, while I was intrigued enough to take a picture, I didn’t give it much thought, until Son No. 2 came home, saw the photo, and told me he’d seen a news item about a new variety of ladybird which wildlife experts were very concerned about - the Harlequin ladybird.
The Harlequin ladybird is a definite threat to our native species. Not only does it compete for their food supply of aphids, but it will directly eat our own native ladybirds. It also causes damage to soft fruit by sucking large quantities of sap, and it can invade houses causing damage to soft furnishings with its nasty sticky droppings. So, not a welcome guest, then.
Naturally, I looked it up on the interweb (or webernet, whatever you like to call it), and found a lot of stories and articles and bits and pieces of news. The truth of the matter is that it does seem to be an illegal immigrant, and it does seem to be a notable threat to our native beetles … but the one I found is probably not a Harlequin, which are much bigger than our own melanic two spots. That one up there is just a normal ladybird-sized ladybird. And thank goodness for that, because as you all know, I hate to kill things.
Oh, and ‘Halloween Ladybird’ is an alternate name for the Harlequins, probably because they look as if they’re dressed up in Halloween colours. It’s a happy co-incindence for me that I’m writing this halfway through October, when our American friends are already up to their necks in pumpkins, spooks, ghouls and witches, and going to Pumpkin Festivals and the like. I mean, one has to grab the attention of readers somehow, doesn’t one?
Hey .. if these things suck sap, maybe we can get them to nibble out the designs for jack o’lanterns? What do you think?
Seems fair to me!
Seems like you are very much like me .. hate to kill anything, but yesterday, I killed about 10 Black Widows, it really hurt me, and put me into a terrible mood, but they were all over the garden, and Mrs M was weeding and gardening, you can’t have such dangerous things around…. sad though. Great photo, love to see ladybirds, I always thought they were good little things …….
Moons last blog post..Too much money ……
Jay, I think you will find that it’s a Kidney-spot Ladybird Chilocorus renipustulatus. The picture I saw doesn’t have white on it’s face, but is identical in shape and colour otherwise. Often have kidney shaped spot ;O)
Babs - beetles last blog post..Diamonds. A girls best friend? - Part 1
I love ladybirds - not sure I could kill one. Last summer, I found a baby red eared slider (a turtle) in our condo’s pond. I scooped it out - they are introduced here and not good for the local ecology. There was no way that I could kill it. I did briefly consider keeping it, but then I remembered just how big they get. So, I took it to a local pet store, where one of the clerks adopted it. Phew! I find it hard just killing mosquitoes, even when they are heading straight for my arteries.
Moon: Shame on you! They are not lethal, you know, they just hurt a bit……..
Don’t Bug Me!s last blog post..Machu Picchu - The Lost City of the Incas.
Apparently ladybirds have very active sex lives . . .or so I read. I’ve never seen one like that, we have the traditional European imports but they don’t seem to do any real damage, just eat the weeds and aphids . . .
In America we call them Lady Bugs. and they are probably the ONLY bug I am NOT afraid of!! I think they are pretty.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..I Could Use Some Rainbows And Unicorns
Moon - Black Widows would scare me, no matter that I’m not afraid of spiders in general. Brown Recluses scare me too. I think I probably would kill those if I had to share a house with them.
Well, let’s face it. It would either be that or divorce, in my case!
Babs - I haven’t had a chance to look him up yet, but I’ll check that out. One thing my Dad did teach me, though, is not to disregard details like ‘face’ colouring without being absolutely certain there was nothing else it could be, and getting the opinion of an expert. I’ll send the pic to the survey people, shall I? And I’ll let you know what they say!
DBM - I wouldn’t kill one, either, don’t worry! And in fact even the people who are running the survey on Harlequins are saying ‘do not kill any ladybirds’.
Baino - Our own native ladybirds don’t do any damage either, they’re classed as beneficial insects. I think that’s why the experts are so concerned, they don’t want our own good ladybirds being taken out by the baddies!
Ladybirds have active sex lives? Have you heard about the snails??
Meleah - I rather like the name Lady Bugs! And I think pretty much everyone loves them. Do you have children’s nursery rhymes about them too, or is it just us?
No -no matter how I try - just reading about some insects makes me shudder!! Its very pretty but I’m off to get a soothing coffee now!!! x
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Aw what a pretty little bug. I love ladybirds. Talking of Halloween and all things pumpkin, Virginia has a HUGE pumpkin festival over here in County Cavan. I’m a bit ‘meh’ about Halloween to be honest. It’s massive here in Ireland - we’re very Americky about lots of things, obviously this is one of them. Everyone’s already decorating their houses! I miss fireworks (they’re banned here apart from organised displays) so I might pop down for the display at the end of the festival, but I’ll leave the trick or treating, thanks!
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Yes do. It’s nice to find these things out for sure
Babs - beetles last blog post..Diamonds. A girls best friend? - Part 1
Wow, such photo clarity! I am in awe. It’s really lovely.
Wendys last blog post..Peas. Pods.
Kate - Gosh, I’m sorry. I thought ladybirds might be safe! Hope the coffee soothed!
EM - I’m extremely ‘meh’ about Halloween myself, but I have a lot of American friends who bully me till I post pics of pumpkins etc.
Must say, I like the look of the title of your latest blog. Must pop over and pick up the recipe!!
Babs - I sent it off today! I’ll let you know what they say.
Wendy - Thank you! I guess it’s not bad for a hand-held macro, with shaky hands, to boot! LOL! I might not have done so well with the compact digital, but it had run out of battery power so I had to use the real, grown up camera!
I love Ladybirds,they are so pretty.I used to kill insects a lot but I just can’t kill anything these days although wasps don’t fare well. I accidently killed a spider the other day but i was just pushing it away from me, unfortunately it’s legs fell off and I felt bad for ages.
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i like it so much character. sandy
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Wow, great picture, Jay… I have NEVER seen one of these before! We only have the typical orange models over here.
You don’t celebrate Halloween at all, eh? Too bad. I love it; and just decorated up the house yesterday.
You’ve seen my Jack Sparrow Jack O’ Lantern, haven’t you?
Maureens last blog post..Too Many Choices
Janice - I love pretty much any beetle, but ladybirds are rather special, aren’t they?
OH did that to a spider a few weeks back and he felt bad, too. They’re really rather fragile, aren’t they?
Sandy - Thank you!
Maureen - You do have them over in the US and Canada, but I don’t know how widespread they are.
Jack Sparrow pumpkin? Where is it? Coming over to search!
Oh, it’s terribly cute– it’s like it didn’t want to wear what all the other ladybugs were wearing this year and said, “I shall design my OWN.”
Jenn Thorsons last blog post..Jailbirds, Sing-Sing and a whole New Meaning to Polly Pocket
I’ll post another pic of the pumpkin this week in celebration of Halloween Friday….
Just for you. Okay, for me too.
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