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The Ladybird thread (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andy Bright
- Start date
hughredcanary
hugh
The harlequin ladybird
Hi I’m not shore if I have posted this before but you may find this interesting,The harlequin A new ladybird has arrived in Britain. But not just any ladybird: this is the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, the most invasive ladybird on Earth. http://www.harlequin-survey.org/spread.htm
have a look at the Ladybird photos on my website, http://hughsphotoshop.com/
in particular look at this link, http://hughsphotoshop.freehostia.com/Gallery2/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=138
Hugh
Hi I’m not shore if I have posted this before but you may find this interesting,The harlequin A new ladybird has arrived in Britain. But not just any ladybird: this is the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, the most invasive ladybird on Earth. http://www.harlequin-survey.org/spread.htm
have a look at the Ladybird photos on my website, http://hughsphotoshop.com/
in particular look at this link, http://hughsphotoshop.freehostia.com/Gallery2/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=138
Hugh
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Chris D
Well-known member
I just saw this thread and am too lazy to read through all the posts. Just curious if those (in the old world) get the huge congregations of these beetles like we do in foothill parts of California. I've seen places with 1 to 3 inches of them covering quite large areas. Millions. Just curious............chris
hughredcanary
hugh
Hi Chris tack a look at this
Hugh
http://hughsphotoshop.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=37&pos=-63
paul mabbott
Urban space man
That begs the question, "Which ladybird?"!
Things have changed over recent years and the multivariate Asian ladybird is now found in pest proportions over most of the temperate world.
However, until this beetle, Harmonia axyridis, was introduced to the Americas and Europe, the most abundant in mid-Western North America was the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens. This had the peculiar habit of flying to passes on the Rockies and elsewhere and congregating in vast numbers in the Autumn.
It used to be so prolific that garden suppliers would go and collect bucketsful to sell as a green 'pesticide'! I'd be interested to know how it's coping with the arrival of H. axyridis.
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/hippodamia.html
Things have changed over recent years and the multivariate Asian ladybird is now found in pest proportions over most of the temperate world.
However, until this beetle, Harmonia axyridis, was introduced to the Americas and Europe, the most abundant in mid-Western North America was the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens. This had the peculiar habit of flying to passes on the Rockies and elsewhere and congregating in vast numbers in the Autumn.
It used to be so prolific that garden suppliers would go and collect bucketsful to sell as a green 'pesticide'! I'd be interested to know how it's coping with the arrival of H. axyridis.
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/hippodamia.html
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Chris D
Well-known member
I'd say it looks like convergens. Sorry for my ignorance. Huge congregations are still common here in California. I've seen places where you could fill barrels - let alone buckets. There is a place in Sequioa National Park called, "Lady Bug". It's a campground at the correct elevation. It gets the swarms. Near my home (much further north) I've seen them in a place called Butte Creek Canyon. Just incredible.
Impressive Male Orang utan for your avatar Paul. My wife and I have been fortunate in being able to travel to Borneo 3 times. Still, by far ---- the best bugs I've ever had the pleasure to witness. Of all the red apes I've seen ----- one really stood out that resembled your avatar. The locals said 'he was ready to come down out of the trees'. Perhaps 40 years old. Definitely the largest face pads I witnessed.
There were times I would sit under trees and see (at a safe distance) these creatures defacate - hitting the forest floor. An incredibly green dung beetle would attack the green masses. Build the balls - and roll away. Magic.
Our last trip there - was wet ---- best bugs ever. I prepared some photo/descriptive Emails that I sent to friends. If anyone is interested - PM me and I'll send.....chris
Impressive Male Orang utan for your avatar Paul. My wife and I have been fortunate in being able to travel to Borneo 3 times. Still, by far ---- the best bugs I've ever had the pleasure to witness. Of all the red apes I've seen ----- one really stood out that resembled your avatar. The locals said 'he was ready to come down out of the trees'. Perhaps 40 years old. Definitely the largest face pads I witnessed.
There were times I would sit under trees and see (at a safe distance) these creatures defacate - hitting the forest floor. An incredibly green dung beetle would attack the green masses. Build the balls - and roll away. Magic.
Our last trip there - was wet ---- best bugs ever. I prepared some photo/descriptive Emails that I sent to friends. If anyone is interested - PM me and I'll send.....chris
Stuart Read
Well-known member
Lots of ladybirds seen yesterday morning, in particular a 20 metre stetch of hedge & ditch on the Essex side of the River Stour I counted 82 7-spot Ladybirds & 8 Harlequins on the nettles, thistles, bindweed etc.
Hopefully this shows that the Harlequin isn't having much effect on the 7-spots?
Stuart
Hopefully this shows that the Harlequin isn't having much effect on the 7-spots?
Stuart
Brian Stone
A Stone chatting
It looks like being a good year. There were hundreds of metamorphosing pupae along a stretch of the river Nene I noticed earlier this week. Had my first Orange Ladybird of the year in my moth trap this week (it's a regular visitor to light).
Davebutterflyman
Well-known member
Good numbers of 7 and 2 spot ladybirds at a number of locations in Derbyshire over the last few weeks.Particulary at Dovedale,Carsington and Crich with over 30 seven spots in a small area in the meadow at the Millfield entrance to Carsington water.
Dave.
Dave.
paul mabbott
Urban space man
The 'harlequin' ladybird is Harmonia axyridis
- they are quite abundant this year. Adalia bipunctata is the 2-spot ladybird although it comes in several diferent forms: the black with four red spots form (melanic, quadripustulata) tends to be more common early in the year. The seasons are late this year - most ladybirds only just emerging in
Yorkshire!
paul mabbott
Urban space man
Good to hear - they haven't been too common in the northern part of the county .... yet!
Can I make a plea for anyone who has observations of ladybirds from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, London or Essex to let me have a note (e-mail) - species, location, number and any other info will be very useful in our ongoing studies!
Can I make a plea for anyone who has observations of ladybirds from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, London or Essex to let me have a note (e-mail) - species, location, number and any other info will be very useful in our ongoing studies!
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Thanks for that info on species Paul. The ones I have seen are the 'black with four red spots', the melanistic ones. So, i have yet to see a Harlequin Ladybird, well, not exactly true, I've seen the orange form, but not the black and red.
Stuart Read
Well-known member
George Edwards
Nom de plume
Davebutterflyman
Well-known member
Well done Stuart on spotting (no pun intended!) your bogey species,nice photos as well.Couple of two spot ladybirds in the garden today.
Dave.
Dave.
Stuart Read
Well-known member
Thankyou Dave.
Seen plenty of other ladybirds about recently, mostly 7-spot & Harlequin but also Adonis, 10-spot, 2-spot, 14-spot, 24-spot & Orange Ladybirds.
Stuart
Seen plenty of other ladybirds about recently, mostly 7-spot & Harlequin but also Adonis, 10-spot, 2-spot, 14-spot, 24-spot & Orange Ladybirds.
Stuart
Davebutterflyman
Well-known member
Three species in the garden today which i think is a first.Seven spot,Harlequin and 24 spot.
Dave.
Dave.
JBee
Well-known member
Variation???
Can anyone help ID this unusual ladybird?
At first glance I thought it was either an Eyed or cream spotted ladybird but the black rings around cream spots tend to lead away from both species.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Can anyone help ID this unusual ladybird?
At first glance I thought it was either an Eyed or cream spotted ladybird but the black rings around cream spots tend to lead away from both species.
Any help greatly appreciated.
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It is Cream-spotted. Not one I see very often.
