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Description
There are increasing reports of the arrival in Britain of an alien species of ladybird, known popularly as the Harlequin or Asian Ladybird , scientifically as Harmonia axyridis. The The harlequin has been dubbed 'killer ladybird' and, in this case, the hype is probably not over-done.
H. axyridis originated in SE Asia and was introduced deliberately into mainland Europe and the U.S.A. as a biological control, being an more voracious predator of aphids than native ladybirds . The proble being it attacks , with vigour, adults and larvae of other ladybirds, and the larvae of aphid predators Eg: lacewings and hoverflies. Other insects, including the caterpillars of moths and butterflies have also been eaten.
The first English sightings were in Essex in 2004 but it was subsequently seen in many other places, mainly coastal, as far north as Burnley with a single specimen being found in Derby. A specimen has been found in Calderdale W Yorks
Larva are very dark in colour, with distinctive orange processes on the abdomen.
ID Features
1. They are relatively large (6-8 mms), the length of the
Seven-spot ladybird (our commonest native species), or slightly longer.
2. Their bodies are distinctly rounded.
3. Their legs are brown (only partly in melanic specimens).
4. They may have 0-19 black spots on red or orange or two
or more red patches on black.
5. Their heads have a conspicuous white marking with a
small triangle in the center - which remains on the melanic specimens.
6. Their pronota have a lot of white, the side margins remain
on melanic specimens.
For further information visit the National Harlequin Recording Website at
www.harlequin-survey.org
