Ladybird

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Oct 09, 2006 12:07 pm

Lots of these little fellas on my palm tree today

Tundra_Queen · Post by **Tundra_Queen** » Oct 11, 2006 11:25 pm

Didn't see too many of those around here this year. I think they are cute!

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Oct 12, 2006 6:41 am

Sam....are ladybird's the same as our ladybugs?

Thanks!!

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Oct 12, 2006 9:03 am

Goosey .... how could you EVER call that lovely helpful little garden creature a 'BUG?'

Gruntfuttock · Post by **Gruntfuttock** » Oct 12, 2006 4:43 pm

I found this tiny 22 spot ladybird in the utility room. Had I known at the time that they ate mildew I would have put it on one of my indoor plants.

The £ coin is about the size of a dime.

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Oct 13, 2006 9:26 am

Grunt, I think what you have are what we call fake ladybugs.. I am not sure of their real name. You can tell the difference by their coloring.. they are more orange and have many more spots. They also gather much like cluster flies do in the fall. They're not good bugs to have esp. inside. I was bit by one a few years back and it took months(3) to heal.

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Oct 13, 2006 11:44 am

The 22 spot is definitely a Ladybird

The false Ladybird is another insect altogether
Here is a website of the different ones found in the UK
Note particularly the Harlequin which apparently is even a threat to our native Ladybird, and may well be the one mentioned by Dusty as it is prevalent in the States and a right 'bad wee bugger'

And also mentioned is the False Ladybird which apparently is fairly harmless

http://www.uksafari.com/ladybirds.htm

Linda P · Post by **Linda P** » Oct 15, 2006 11:45 pm

The one that bites and swarms at this time of year in the US is the Asian ladybeetle. Here's a link to the University of Minnesota web page about the little pests. There's one good thing about them...I haven't seen a single aphid on my nearly-2 acres of garden since they got here. They are a terrible nuisance in the house, and on the days when they're swarming in the fall, it's nearly impossible to be outside. I don't use pesticides, so I just vacuum up the ones that get in the house.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distributi ... M1176.html
I do still have large numbers of the 'real' ladybugs (yes, Sam, that's what we call them here, though I like your name for them much better!)
Linda P

Doris_J · Post by **Doris_J** » Oct 18, 2006 12:12 pm

Mama!

Ginger · Post by **Ginger** » Oct 20, 2006 12:03 pm

I have never heard them called lady birds. Here we call them lady bugs. I have had alot of the type you mentioned (I think you called them Harlequins?) at my house and yes they do bite! I have never killed one in my life, but these I kill with a vengence

They seem to flock around the side of my house in the spring and fall and get inside and into all the light fixtures, blinds everywhere.

Ginger

Gruntfuttock · Post by **Gruntfuttock** » Oct 26, 2006 3:18 pm

The harlequins are here to stay. I saw one in the pub the other night. No, really, I did.

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Oct 26, 2006 3:50 pm

I believe you Grunty

My last experience in the pub was an elephant, and you know us Leprauchauns never lie

Doris_J · Post by **Doris_J** » Oct 26, 2006 10:12 pm

Hey, we met at the Pub!

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Oct 27, 2006 4:25 am

Hey Doris ... I think there is a little naughty moment coming there between two different ladybirds

Doris_J · Post by **Doris_J** » Oct 27, 2006 8:13 am

I hear opposites attract, Sam!