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Talkback: Harlequin ladybirds
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I found a 'reversed' lady bird on my back door step yesterday... black with two red spots (or maybe they were white, can't remember now)... where does this belong - native / abroad?
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Thanks for all the comments. Now is the time that ladybirds start to hibernate and this is why people are finding them on their houses or coming indoors. It is this behaviour that has caused most upset to the Americans - they come into buildings in large numbers and the biggest fuss is from wine producers who find their vats polluted with them. Ladybirds are warningly coloured because they contain bitter poisons to deter predators. These bitter chemicals taint the wine. They will not do any harm indoors, but an easy solution is to release them into an unheated greenhouse, shed or out-building where they will settle down properly and not be disturbed by central heating.
I donot like to kill animals etc, but these are not really very pleasant.
The advice not to kill them is ridiculous.
One ladybird can create thousands of young.
The harlequins try to hibernate in houses and will bite people if they do not have enough food. The bites are very itchy and some people are allergic to them and will find them extremely uncomfortable.
The yellow poison they spew out smells bad, and stains furniture.
The info is out there, people. Go and read it.
I know someones kitchen has been invaded. She won't kill them. Its now November and she is swearing the itchy rash she has all over her legs arms and neck is mosquitoes..
Don't forget, like any other insects in the house, these will crawl over unhygenic surfaces and then over your food and prep surfaces...
They are attracted to any sugary substance, which is why they spoil the wine... they spoil fruit also..
Probably the best way to kill them without chemicals and without them ruining the house when you pop them is to suck them up in a handheld vacuum and flush them down the loo.