We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THE IRISH WILDLIFE Trust (IWT) needs your help.
It is trying to build up reliable records of this invasive species of ladybird and wants to know if you’ve seen any of them.
Since the beginning of this year, the IWT had been asking the general public to submit records of ladybirds and said it has been delighted with the enthusiasm. The trust had asked for reports of sightings of the Harlequin ladybird, which eats other ladybird’s eggs, in April.
However it continues to evade them and records have been inconclusive.
The Harlequin causes problems in the natural environment as it has a wide dietary range and outcompetes native ladybirds for their main prey.
Harlequins can reproduce up to three generations per year whilst most other native ladybird species will only reproduce once.
These are the two most common colours that have been recorded.
The Harlequin is larger than most of our native species at 5-8mm. The red and black form as shown can be seen by the black ‘M’ on its head plate. They can be found on a wide range of habitats and on a wide range of plants. The larvae, see above, are quite distinctive with shiny spines and an oblong orange colour on its back.
“It is especially important for us to learn of any records in Dublin, Galway, Limerick or Waterford,” the trust said today. They are asking that, if you spot one of these insects, that you take a photo for verification and upload it to biology.ie or send it to iwtladybirdsurvey@gmail.com.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
After you take the photo squash the little fecker.
there is a bit of reflection from my screen but picture taken and sent
Well played…
Kinda looks like an Apple logo on the back. Has Steve Jobs been reincarnated as a Ladybird and is now killing the Ladybird competition?
Too windy and wet here in mayo to go outside and look for the buggers
Dose anyone ever remember these posters?
They use to be in every Garda station in the country.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=60750&d=1217851979
So it’s basically a better ladybird than what we already have. I think we should keep it and tell the old one to piss off and he can take the red squirrel with him while he’s at it
Hahaha poor squirrel !
We have spotted that ladybird in Galway but without the spots..ie, that shaped body with narrow ‘neck and head’. Should we have squashed it??
Um, just to be clear, the IWT isn’t proposing a public cull on these ladybirds! They just want you to take a photo of one and send it to them :)
I say we have our very own whacking day
saw only one this year but in bavaria, Germany…..kids thought it funny the colours were reversed. We also have japanese ladybird here millions of them…
Gaston?
*goes to goggle images
It’s the x men of ladybirds
Another journal editing fail. Should the headline not be ‘evasive’ rather than ‘invasive’?
Could be either Steve…..or either….
have your say