Ladybirds

Ladybirds are insects of the beetle family and are one of the few British insects widely regarded with respect and even affection. This friendship is an old one. Ladybirds have long been connected with good fortune in myths and legends, and from an early age children still learn to treasure them through story books and rhymes. Such high regard is well-earned, gardeners love them because they eat all the pests which damage plants and flowers, particularly aphids. They can also eat mites, scale insects, mealy bugs and small caterpillars. In Britain, some 46 species belong to this family, although only 26 of these are recognisably ladybirds.  Some of the most popular are as follows.

Ladybird Types

2 Spot (Adalia bipunctata)

Found throughout the UK from March to October in fields, parks, woods and gardens. It is approximately 4-6mm in length and colours can vary, some specimens have black casings with red spots.

7 Spot (Coccinella 7-punctata)

This ladybird is approximately 6-8mm long and can be found throughout the UK during March to October in fields, parks, woods and gardens. 

10 Spot (Adalia 10-punctata)

Found mainly in hedgerows and woodlands from March to October in most parts of the UK. It is approximately 5mm long and again varies in colour.

Cream 14 Spot (Calvia 14-punctata)

This ladybird is approximately 6mm long and can be found in most parts of the UK in hedgerows and woodlands. Orange-brown wing casings with cream coloured spots. Normally found on the leaves of trees and shrubs, from March to October.

Life Cycle

There are 4 stages in the life cycle of a ladybird:

EGG - The eggs are bright yellow and are laid on the underside of leaves. They hatch in about a week.

LARVA - This is its ugly stage! This period lasts about three weeks to a month, and in that time it will probably consume about 400 to 500 aphids.

PUPA - Often called a chrysalis. The larva dissolves into a soup ready to be reconstructed into its adult form. This process takes about a week.

ADULT - Often called the imago. When it emerges from the pupa it is fully grown, and will remain in this form until it dies.

Benefits

Ladybirds are voracious, and very attractive, little creatures who just love eating greenfly and blackfly. Once you establish them in your garden they will breed and provide you with natural pest control for years to come.

Avoiding Dangers

Ladybirds are unlikely to bite you, although they can give you a gentle pinch if they accidentally mistake you for a greenfly.

If you pick up a Ladybird, it might release a yellow fluid that is pungent and slightly caustic. This is actually blood which comes out of it's body through it's legs. It has a very bad flavour and once a bird has tasted this, it will rarely try to eat another ladybird.

Ladybirds don't sting. Their bright coloration is a warning to other animals that they taste bad. In fact they have very few natural enemies.

Encouraging Ladybirds

Feeding

Cultivate a patch of nettles (Urtica dioica): The nettle aphid (not a garden pest) is one of the earliest to appear in the spring. It is a favourite food of hungry ladybirds coming out of hibernation and looking for somewhere to lay their eggs. The nettles should be in a sunny spot. Cut them back in summer to encourage ladybirds to move onto other plants.


Avoid Spraying

Don't panic and spray as soon as you see greenfly. Give natural predators, including ladybirds, a chance. Be patient! Ladybirds and other predators will only settle in if there is a plentiful supply of food i.e. greenfly.  Even approved organic sprays can harm beneficial insects. Both derris and pyrethrum have been shown to be harmful to adult ladybirds, their eggs and larvae. If you get desperate use soft soap or insecticidal soap to spot spray pest colonies. Try to avoid directly spraying ladybirds or their larvae, removing them first whenever possible. The organically approved fungicide sprays - Bordeaux mixture and sulphur are relatively safe for ladybirds (but sulphur can harm other beneficial insects). 

Nesting Material

Hibernating ladybirds shelter in dying vegetation/plant debris, so delay cutting back or clearing up borders until spring. Dead-head plants with hollow stems to give ladybirds easier access, or cut stems back then stack them in a dryish sheltered spot. The hollow stems of plants such as angelica and fennel (Umbellifer family) make favourite hibernation sites.

You can also encourage them to take up long-term residence using Ladybird Houses or Bug Boxes.

Hibernation

Adult ladybirds hibernate through the winter in sheltered places amongst dense vegetation, leaf-litter, under tree bark etc., or inside buildings, outhouses and sheds. They often invade houses, nestling around doors and window frames, or in the folds of curtains. If you find these sleepy individuals, have a thought to their future value in controlling garden pests - it takes little time to coax them carefully into a jar and move them to a garden shed, hedge bottom or other sheltered place outside, where they can finish their winter sleep. Some ladybirds become strongly gregarious as winter approaches and huddle together in large clusters, sometimes consisting of several hundred individuals. The reason for this behaviour is unknown, but it certainly can provide a colourful display.