Harlequin ladybugs invade homes after a hot summer

People in England and Wales say their ladybugs swarm in their homes and buildings.

Ladybug experts suggest that the hot summer has increased the number of invasive species of Harlequin, which arrived for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2004.

When the temperature drops, the Harlequin hibernates for the winter in buildings, including houses.

Scientists say ladybugs are mostly harmless and can be left alone if they are in your home.

Flocks of publications appeared on social media to document the ladybugs' invasion, with small red bugs crawling over the doors and windows of the houses.

Professor Helen Roy of the Center for Ecology and Hydrology, who is organizing the UK survey on ladybugs, said reports had begun in northern England, where the weather had become mild. , before expanding into the country.

She said: "It's a wildlife show to see."

The hot summer would probably have increased the number of insects, although she said that the survey data was not yet complete.

Native to Asia, the ladybug Harlequin was seen for the first time in the UK 14 years ago. It is now the second most common ladybug species found throughout England and parts of Wales.

But his arrival caused fears of moving some native species, such as the two-spotted ladybug.

Peter Brown, another organizer of ladybug surveys and lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, said that although the Harlequin species is generally larger, it is not always easy to distinguish between native varieties in the wild.

But he said ladybugs seen crawling into homes are likely to be this invader, as other species tend to hibernate in trees or dead leaves.

He said: "If you receive a large number of ladybugs in a building, it is very likely that they are Harlequins."

Dr. Brown said that the annual swarming of Harlequin in the fall before hibernation had led to the nickname Halloween ladybug in the United States.

Dr. Brown stated that Harlequin ladybugs sometimes bite people if no food is available, usually leaving a small lump and sting. In some cases, people have had severe allergic reactions.

But he said if you saw Harlequins at home, it might be easier to leave them alone. When they are disturbed, they secrete a yellowish substance that can stain the furniture.