Foreign ladybirds hit Derbyshire

Nature experts are warning the arrival of a new breed of foreign ladybird could have a devastating affect on the native ladybird population.

Harlequin ladybirds have been invading the UK over the past five years after flying across the English Channel and being brought in on foreign plants.

In Derbyshire, records suggest these foreign invaders are on the increase.

But their taste for native ladybirds and other insects could cause major problems.

It's already happened in the US. The Harlequins were introduced 20 years ago and have decimated the native population.

Derbyshire was one of the first places in the East Midlands to notice the presence of the new ladybirds and Derby Museum's Nick Brown says there's not a lot we can do about them now.

He told BBC Radio Derby's Shane O'Connor: "You can't really stop them. They're tiny, they're not particularly attracted by any one thing and they're all over the countryside now.

"It's amazing. It took the grey squirrel about 100 years to colonise Britain - but the harlequin has made it to Scotland in about five years."

This time of year sees the harlequins hibernating in peoples' houses in groups of up to 100 - causing a huge shock for people who discover them, like Celia Lemon from Mickleover.

She said: "I noticed a few when the weather warmed up on Tuesday. By Wednesday one side of our property was absolutely covered in them to the point where they were coming through the windows and the doors.

"I could tell straight away they weren't the native British ladybirds as they were more black than red. It was disgusting - I had to go round and vacuum them all up in the end."

The Harlequin is about the same size as the largest of the natives but they enjoy feasting on ladybird larvae and the soft-bodied young natives.

Nick sighed: "We keep introducing things which aren't right for the places they've been introduced to and they cause problems for the native things."

Have you spotted any Harlequin ladybirds in Derbyshire? If you have any photos, we'd love to see them so please send them to [e-mail]