Hibernating Ladybirds

[PapaLazaru]

During the autumn a load of ladybirds decided to come and hibernate in my bedroom. I was a bit peeved at first, but then became happy that they chose me and I now feel like a bit of a father figure to them.

A few of the poor souls have departed this Earth during the winter, but I count them daily and I still have 27 sleeping live ones.

Now a few have started to walk about again and I did open the window a little to see if any of them wanted to leave but none did.

Does anyone know when they are likely to want to leave as I do want want to help them outside too early. I could not bear the thought of one of my 'children' freezing to death.

 

[PapaLazaru]

It is all true, I was just trying to inject some humour.

 

[PapaLazaru]

Just uploading some pics.

They have had numerous lairs but keep fragmenting into other ones. I reckon their is some infighting going on. There are two main lairs, the rest of them are all running around again. have just opened the window a little to see if any of them want to go outside.

 

[PapaLazaru]

This used to be the big lair but has dwindled from about 15 to 4. (omg I need to so some dusting)

A 'runner'.

One of the other lairs -

The other half are all running about. They are certainly looking more perky than they have for the last 2 months.

I reckon it will soon be time to say goodbye

 

[PapaLazaru]

we've got loads of them in our house; most of them have died but a few still remain.

we seem to only have the asian ones (black with red spots) so i'm quite glad they're dying (they kill our good ol' british ones apparently)

Yeah keep them inside if they come anywhere near mine there will be trouble

 

[PapaLazaru]

Well after not beliveing that ladybirds hibernated I did a bit of googling, looks like these are Harlequin Ladybirds and quite invasive. You might want to report their presence here:

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/

Don't tell me I have been looking after invasive Ladybirds

 

[PapaLazaru]

I reported them to that website and sent them the pictures.

Will await a response as they said they will confirm if they are indeed evil ladybirds.

I don't know what I am going to do if they are evil ones. I have become quite attached.

 

[PapaLazaru]

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/factfile/concern.htm:

"When hungry, harlequin ladybirds will bite humans in their search for something edible. Ladybirds in houses, woken from dormancy by central heating, may bite people as there is no food available"

You're gonna get eaten

My contented life as a father to these Ladybirds is now in ruins!

 

[PapaLazaru]

Then I will have a spider 'son' instead of a load of Ladybirds

 

[PapaLazaru]

Well well well. My window was left open today due to the warm weather and guess what? The little gits are back.

I decided to take no mercy this time and intorduced them to my friend, Henry. Sucked them all up through a t-shirt and sent them back from whence they came.

 

[PapaLazaru]

Those are the evil Harlequin ladybirds!!!!

you're meant to kill those ones on sight, they are the gray squirrels of ladybirds

I know they are evil ones, but it would still be like stabbing my own children. They can go and nest elsewhere this year!

 

[PapaLazaru]

I think your bedroom needs a little clean.

That was the first thing I thought

Check the date of the post. That was over a year ago. Much cleaner now.

 

[PapaLazaru]

Right that is it.

I have been really careful not to let any of the little foreign invaders in this year, but look what I just found hiding by the top of the blind!

Words fail me sometimes. They are going to have to meet my friend, Henry the Hoover again and I shall be releasing them into the frozen wastes of my garden.

 

[PapaLazaru]

I spot a Black with Red spotted one there with the normal Red&Black ones, some strange breeding going on there.

I have checked them online. Same as last year, they are foreign invaders which are driving out our English ones.

Send em' back!