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Friend Or Foe?
Most people in Britain have probably heard of the deadly battle taking place over our fertile green shores. The war is a fight to the death, and it seems already certain that Britain’s humble and native ladybirds are to take a severe bashing from Asia’s latest immigrant – the Harlequin Ladybird. Introduced as a pest control to Europe, they have spread far and wide and exceeded all expectations for their success. However, many experts are citing that they spell certain doom for native inhabitants, our iconic 7 spot, or the little orange beauty, as they both out compete and predate on Britain’s fauna.
The Harlequin invasion is in full swing
As a gardener and keen naturalist, there are stark arguments on either side of the debate. it is indeed true that the Harlequin ladybird out competes any British species, is spreading like wildfire, and also predates on the larvae, and to some extent the adults, of our own natives. Indentified by their brown legs and sometime ‘M’ shaped white plate placed before the wing cases, many are doing everything possible to eradicate the Harlequins from their area, without much success. This time of year, when they are searching for dry, warm places to hibernate they come into particularly close contact with us as, in their hundreds, they find windowsills, attic spaces, dry spots to sleep the winter away.
A native Seven Spot ladybird snacks on aphids
However, whilst some conservationists advise strongly for the eradication and destruction of this species, as a gardener I have a hard time listening. The state of my Broad Beans this year especially indicates that there is more than enough blackfly around to feed all species. A ladybird has universally, up unto now, been a gardeners friend and therefore I find it difficult, no, unbearable to even contemplate squishing one. If I notice a severe decrease in the native varieties around my gardening routes and allotment I may well change my mind, but for now I’m just going to be happy that little sweet delightful aphids are being snacked on by a growing population of brightly spotted friends.
The tiny Orange ladybird is also under threat
Friend or Foe? Well, you decide.
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