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Original poster

A plague of ladybirds

100 replies

HappyLittleLentil · 08/10/2023 14:21

Has anyone got a plague of ladybirds in their area? There are a few hundred in my garden - on the clothes line, the walls, garden bench. Loads of little spots on these too!

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AnotherTeaPlease · 08/10/2023 20:07

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Eggmcmuffin · 08/10/2023 20:09

Yes loads here too in South wales, the heat brings them out I think. The spiders are loving it, dinner time for them!

CrunchyCarrot · 08/10/2023 20:16

Yes lots here (West Midlands) - I rescued one from a spider's web today. He was only caught by one thread on his back. You could see him making Herculean efforts to get free (the web was up against a window so he was walking on the window trying to pull himself away. In the end I went out and carefully got him off, stuck to a stick. Then I relocated him and gently pulled away the web - gosh it was strong!

Deadringer · 08/10/2023 20:18

I haven't seen one in years.

BusySittingDown · 08/10/2023 20:20

Yes!!! I opened the door to peg my washing out this morning and was confronted by about 20 around my door! I was like, wtf?!? I'm not sure if they were attracted to the white of the door but it was insane.

Samanabanana · 08/10/2023 20:20

Loads over the last few days in Yorkshire too - inside and out!

OldTinHat · 08/10/2023 20:25

I've not seen a ladybird in years. SE here.

Paddestow · 08/10/2023 20:25

Yes Warwickshire. So glad to see them as they are great aphid munchers!

WildFlowerBees · 08/10/2023 20:33

Ladybirds are apparently good luck, so you welcome them and say thank you for coming and they're supposed to leave you a financial gift. I mean I've never been left anything but I like the idea.

JustCleaningtheBBQ · 08/10/2023 21:29

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 08/10/2023 18:27

It’s not a plague, it’s officially a Loveliness of Ladybirds. 🐞

I came on to say the same thing. My favourite collective noun.
They are great DP for eating aphids

Beamur · 08/10/2023 21:33

I'm finding lots of larval ladybirds in my garden - absolutely amazing little beasts, they look like hexbugs. There are trees near my house that are covered in aphids in the summer - hence the ladybirds.
Apparently they cluster to hibernate and attract each other by scent.

BeverlyBrook · 08/10/2023 21:37

Where do they hibernate? We have lots, and lots of the larvae on one plant in the garden.

toobusytothink · 08/10/2023 22:06

OMG I’m so glad you posted this. So bizarre. Massive swarm in our garden today all over the outside of our house. Some of the poisonous variety too. Freaked me out ….

DairyQueenforever · 08/10/2023 22:07

HappyLittleLentil · 08/10/2023 14:21

Has anyone got a plague of ladybirds in their area? There are a few hundred in my garden - on the clothes line, the walls, garden bench. Loads of little spots on these too!

Loads in Cheshire !

TheFormidableMrsC · 08/10/2023 22:17

We seem to have an invasion today. Lots of FB posts about it. DS's bedroom window had loads on it. North Herts.

Thesearmsofmine · 08/10/2023 22:35

We get them every year, loads inside and out. I have a fear of any flying bugs and wish they would stay outside but it’s lovely to have them at the same time!

Fawbs89 · 08/10/2023 23:03

Yep near rochdale loads of them!!!!

MrsMontyDon2020 · 08/10/2023 23:21

We noticed a few landing on us today! We are north west.
They're excellent for gardens as they eat the aphids. We've got LOADS of mosquitos this year but no idea where they're coming from.

StillWantingADog · 09/10/2023 09:28

I have extensively googled and basically they sense around this time of year every year that it’s the last warm spell before winter. Perhaps more noticeable this year as extra warm.

anyway they are looking for somewhere to hibernate for the winter and they particularly like crevices and cracks around windows.

This morning I have spotted a few sleeping huddled up together in the space where the patio doors close.

Original poster
HappyLittleLentil · 09/10/2023 11:11

daytriptovulcan · 08/10/2023 16:48

What a miserable post. Will you be happy when everything's dead, and there's only humans left.

Whoa! Who said I didn't like them?! I just don't like to see them getting trapped inside.

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Original poster
HappyLittleLentil · 09/10/2023 11:11

CacenCaws · 08/10/2023 14:54

Not loads but there were a couple on my washing that I had to remove while getting it in yesterday and today. The ones with more black though, rather than the common red spotty ones. In North Wales

Yes! Loads of dark ones.
Also red ones ones with 10+ spots

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Original poster
HappyLittleLentil · 09/10/2023 11:17

timetorefresh · 08/10/2023 16:54

Plague is a pretty negative term. Ladybirds are great. Sadly only seen one today

Yes, I'll accept that.

Not meant though.

Swarm? Mob?
Just wanted to signify that there's absolutely loads of them!

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Original poster
HappyLittleLentil · 09/10/2023 11:20

Bichette · 08/10/2023 17:23

Lots here in Gloucestershire and we've also got cluster flies which really creep me out.

Aaahhh the cluster flies weee an issue Saturday night. I left my bifolds open until dark and didn't notice how many flew in. Woke this morning to about 500 on my windows and ceiling.

I used a soft sweeping brush to sweep them gently out.

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Original poster
HappyLittleLentil · 09/10/2023 11:20

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 08/10/2023 18:27

It’s not a plague, it’s officially a Loveliness of Ladybirds. 🐞

Point taken. Lovely term Smile

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35965a · 09/10/2023 11:23

There were loads around here this weekend. There was an explosion of tiny white flies that look like ash (I think they’re just called whiteflies 😂) too and apparently ladybirds eat them? So I think the whiteflies have tempted the ladybirds back out.