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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

Where are all the ladybirds??

34 replies

APurpleSquirrel · 12/06/2023 12:54

We've hardly had any ladybirds in the garden this year - anyone else?
Is it the weather?
Our cherry tree & lots of other plants have tons of blackfly - usually it's fine as the ladybirds & their young move in & deal with it, but not so far this year. & thinking about it, I just haven't seen many this year either.
I know the bumblebees were delayed by the cold wet spring, so wondering if it's the same with ladybirds?

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 12/06/2023 20:56

APurpleSquirrel · 12/06/2023 12:54

We've hardly had any ladybirds in the garden this year - anyone else?
Is it the weather?
Our cherry tree & lots of other plants have tons of blackfly - usually it's fine as the ladybirds & their young move in & deal with it, but not so far this year. & thinking about it, I just haven't seen many this year either.
I know the bumblebees were delayed by the cold wet spring, so wondering if it's the same with ladybirds?

You've just made me realise that I haven't seen any either.

Modernmuse · 12/06/2023 20:58

We need to stop using pesticides.

longtompot · 12/06/2023 21:08

I was looking at my silver birch trees earlier and thinking the same thing. It's usually covered in ladybirds in various stages of life, but I can't see any. The sparrows have been doing their best on the greenfly on the roses but the white large daisys (can't remember their name right now) are covered in blackfly.

ThomasHardyPerennial · 13/06/2023 16:53

I've seen lots so far this year (West Yorkshire) - in my garden and at my allotment.

DustyLee123 · 13/06/2023 16:54

I haven’t seen any yet either, they usually come into the house.

Original poster
APurpleSquirrel · 14/06/2023 19:28

Finally! Better late than never, & there's a veritable banquet for them now!

Where are all the ladybirds??
Where are all the ladybirds??
OP posts:
TheSweetestHalleluja · 14/06/2023 19:31

We have lots on our fruit trees. Fascinating to watch them at all their various stages, they're doing a great job on our blackfly. We're doing no mow may/let it bloom June this year, seem to be getting lots more wildlife as a result which is fab.

Original poster
APurpleSquirrel · 14/06/2023 19:33

We've been no mowing too - but ladybirds just haven't been around until now & our Cherry is infested, not to mention other plants in the garden. Hoping now the ladybirds are here they'll clean up.

OP posts:
dudsville · 14/06/2023 19:35

We haven't seen many but we did see the eggs or whatever they're called on the back of a leaf, we're not sure they survived though.

RabbitsRock · 14/06/2023 19:37

I haven’t seen ladybirds for years - makes me sad as I love them 🐞🐞🐞

Parisj · 14/06/2023 19:59

We have an infestation too and no ladybirds

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 15/06/2023 07:54

Slugs however...

CantBeArsedOrAsked · 15/06/2023 07:56

Lots on my roses, they're competing with the sparrows to eat the green/blackfly.

Struckbylightning · 15/06/2023 07:59

Same here and same blackfly infestation on cherry tree, so I ordered ladybird nymphs from the Green Gardener. It seems to be working…

Justcallmebebes · 15/06/2023 08:10

Same here. I have no bees either. I have a large lavender bush just coming into flower. Usually a massive bee magnet. This year, seen none so far

senua · 15/06/2023 14:41

I thought that there were quite a few ladybirds earlier in the year and wondered if we'd get another bumper summer like 1976. Not seen so many recently.
Apparently the new generation of adults emerge in mid/late summer so hang on a bit ...

BestIsWest · 15/06/2023 15:32

I’ve seen two. Greenfly (and ants) are having a ball though!

Minikievs · 15/06/2023 15:56

I hadn't thought about it until this thread but I haven't seen a ladybird this year!
I have seen a few bees but they're all very small, no big bumbles

CovetedAsFuck · 15/06/2023 16:45

I’ve seen only two or three ladybirds so far.

I keep finding dead bees in our garden this week and it’s a worry. We don’t use any pesticides — I’m really careful about where I buy plants too, because I’m worried about pesticide residue. But I guess the other gardens around here might be using stuff 😔

or it’s the heat?

dudsville · 15/06/2023 18:00

My mum's house (midlands) the lady birds keep finding their way in and dying in the carpet. Very sad. She thinks they're escaping the sun, but that doesn't make sense.

Poppy61 · 15/06/2023 22:11

I bought some ladybirds online and they all flew away, never to be seen again. My husband said they were homing ladybirds 😕

We do seem to have black ladybirds with yellow spots however. Does anyone know what these are?

I hope my ladybirds found a good home.

Poppy61 · 15/06/2023 22:13

Struckbylightening - I used Green Gardener too

Talapia · 15/06/2023 22:21

I've got lots of bees but no ladybirds. I use Green Gardener too, just worried to order any this year as my postal service is so slow.

There are also fewer worms. It's worrying.

IcakethereforeIam · 16/06/2023 13:24

I've seen a number of their larvae pootling around.

I know it's off topic but...

Remember to put out water, even if (like me) it's just in a plant pot saucer. For the insects as well as the birds and mammals. If you get hedgehogs think about putting out food. I expect worms, slugs and snails are hard for them to find. You can get hedgehog food or buy cat food for them. Make sure there's something so they can climb out of ponds, pools and the like.

Kaftanesque · 16/06/2023 13:34

This has made me realise I've not seen any.So sad.We have a garden full of pollinating plants trees and shrubs and don't use any chemicals. Unfortunately most of my immediate neighbours spray anything that moves.And two have fake grass.Is it any wonder insect numbers are declining?