Sunday 22 October 2017

Week 157, Wrong turn


After a hard day eating aphids what could be better than to have a rest on a leaf.

Here we see the Harlequin ladybird, a relatively recent arrival from Asia.

Harlequins were first spotted in the UK in the summer of 2004, although in fact they've always been spotted...

The impact on native ladybird species is being monitored, it isn't likely to be good.

It is already thought to be responsible for the decline of 7 of our 46 resident species.

The "most invasive ladybird on Earth" didn't so much take a wrong turn as take advantage of modern transportation.

They hitched a ride in cars, trucks and other transport.

Harlequins don't just out-compete other ladybird species but will also eat them as well as aphids.

The spotty sods.


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