The Wildlife of
Croome

 
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Beetles - The Harlequin Ladybird

First seen on Monday 28th May 2018 at Croome

This ladybird is not so welcome. It has roughly 18 spots and is a harlequin ladybird. Harlequins have a huge number of colour variations, so are not easy to identify. As well as having more spots, harlequins usually have a white head, with a black 'M' (or 'W' depending which way you are looking). They tend to have large numbers of spots like this one has. Harlequin ladybirds are actually Asian ladybeetles, artificially introduced in Europe to control aphids, and some have got to the UK. They are unwelcome, as when the aphids run out, they eat everything else, including our native ladybirds!


 

Not all Harlequin Ladybirds have a large number of spots - this one for example has none - just a few smudges. However you can see its mainly white head.