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Killer ladybirds in the capital

2:55pm Tuesday 22nd February 2005

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Killer ladybirds are invading London and are threatening the Capital's insects and plants.

The large Multivariate Asian Ladybird - a native of Japan and Siberia - has been spotted in London, and has brought with it a new threat of terror to the Capital's ladybird population.

It is not known how the foreign ladybirds entered the country, but the illegal immigrants are thought to have arrived via intercontinental rail, or on imported fruit and flowers.

Many of the foreign colonies have been spotted in south west London - including the Chelsea, Lambeth, Northern Wandsworth and Southwark boroughs, with experts believing the Harmonia axyridis - to give the species it's Latin name - will spread further east along the Thames as it breeds.

London residents have been asked to keep guard and look out for the large aphid - roughly 6-8mm long. The ladybird can be identified by its white patches down the side of the fore-body, usually coloured red or orange with up to 19 black spots. It may sometimes be coloured black with two to eight red patches.

The public has been asked to send specimens or photographs of unusual specimens for identification to Michael Majerus - address given below.

The exotic ladybirds are a known menace to North American residents, entering houses during the autumn and reproducing in massive numbers. Native ladybirds and insects are edged out, either starved by competition or eaten by the in-comer.

In the longer term there is a chance that the ladybird will prosper in London. However entomologist Paul Mabbott, Co-ordinator for Surveys of Ladybirds in London and Essex, hopes European predators and diseases will keep the growing Asian ladybird population down. It may, however, be necessary to import parasitoids or bacterial treatments to deal with the situation.

Information:

  • Michael Majerus, Dept of Genetics, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EH
  • Ladybirds travel well by post if securely packed in a small, strong container such as a photographic film tube.
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Your Say YourThis Is Local London

Janet Cornwall, says...
1:06pm Tue 14 Nov 06

We seem to have in the office a large gathering of killer ladybirds. Would you like them sent to you or how would you suggest they are best dealt with.

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Angelique Langley, West Dulwich, South East London says...
1:52pm Sat 13 Oct 07

Have great numbers of these killer ladybirds, just this morning alone I have hoovered up in excess of 300 from just two rooms in my house. How can I keep them out???

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Stephen Cook, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex says...
11:23am Sun 14 Oct 07

We have hundreds of both types in and around our house and we are 25 miles outside of London in Esex.

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Bea Hawkins, Tonwell, Ware, Herts says...
1:01pm Sun 14 Oct 07

My husband found one of these yesterday on the outside of our house, but then found one inside this morning.

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Ed Smith, Charlton, London says...
7:01pm Sun 14 Oct 07

There are hundreds of these ladybirds around my house - I have killed 30 already. They are far faster and aggressive than our native ladybirds - which stand no chance. Is any organisation working on saving our native species - because they won't last long against this onslaught?!?

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lily, says...
9:32am Mon 15 Oct 07

We had hundreds yesterday coming in the windows, and i am scared of all crawly things how can i stop them coming in to our flat?

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Beryl Ladd, Exmouth says...
3:41pm Wed 17 Oct 07

There are hundreds of these ladybirds in Phear Park Exmouth.Devon
In all different colours

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Lora, Clapham says...
7:36pm Wed 17 Oct 07

Again, wondering how i can stop these things getting in lol! i have just moved into this flat and the last few days have literally spent most of my time removing ladybirds from the place! i have no idea how theyre getting in but am very keen on keeping them out! Today alone i had over 10 appear in the space of a few hours! Quite happy to collect them up and post them somewhere lol! is this something you would be interested in me doing? Lora

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Triona, Brighton says...
11:13pm Wed 24 Oct 07

Hi i have just caught one of the black ladybirds with two red patches in my bedroom i thought it was a beetle for ages until i looked closely! Anyway this is in Brighton so they are getting about the place!

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Rachel, Cottingham says...
9:17pm Sun 28 Oct 07

I don't think they're just in London. I live just outside Hull and for several days I've had 2 ladybirds in my bedroom. One has around 18 spots, the other possibly 16ish. I want them out!

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Nikx, leeds says...
4:35pm Tue 30 Oct 07

Seen about 10 of these Ladybirds and we are in Leeds , Yorkshire .italic

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caz green, sudbury suffolk says...
11:39pm Tue 30 Oct 07

i have found a cluster of them in the corner of my bedroom,also keeping finding the odd one about my house.. would you like me to send them in? or shall i just hoover them up?

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Sarah, N.London says...
10:21am Wed 31 Oct 07

i first spotted one of each of those harlequin bugs last summer in my kitchen but i've never seen lots of them together. That night they were on the news which explained to me what they were. I spotted one in my bed this morining and i woke up with bites on my feet. Is anyone doing anything to get rid of these horrible ladybirds??? I love animals, but these are killing our native ladybirds - and bitten me =[

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paul ray, birmingham says...
6:29pm Mon 5 Nov 07

hi there,i have a live black ladybird with white patches either side of it's head with 2 red dots on it's back with a dot in the middle of of the red ones,it looks very similar to the picture of the one shown,i have found 3 other normal looking red with numerous black spots all 4 have been found last night and today the 6th november,i hope that i'm not wasting your time regards paul 07752293976

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natalie, royston, herts says...
6:01pm Wed 7 Nov 07

i have had numerous ladybirds in my house this year and they are starting to annoy me and my 4 month son. he usually plays on the floor but cant now due to the invaders. do they bite and how can i get rid of them?

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Maria Fuller, Loughton, Essex says...
9:24am Thu 8 Nov 07

Me and my two friends found a ladybird in out ICT class, one of my freacked out and said it could be a killer ladybird, me and my other friend laughed our heads of but know i believe her after reading this!!

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rachel petchey, loughton essex says...
9:27am Thu 8 Nov 07

I Was in Ict Yesterday when a lady bird landed on my pc n i started screaming because i knew it was a killer lady bird soo i killed it but i came back into day n there were to of them were are they coming from and y are there so many

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Chalie Wilson, essex says...
9:30am Thu 8 Nov 07

The other day there were two ladybirds in out class i screamed and ran out, but then there where two more. Why do they always go for me and know one else do i smell nice

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rachel, loghton says...
9:32am Thu 8 Nov 07

i went to bed last night and there where to ladt birds in my bed room i didnt do anything beacuse they dont hurt you but i woke up in the night in pain n looked up n my arm was missing and i was the two lady birds flying away with it out my bedroom window i didnt know what to do no one would belive me help i only have one arm !!!

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rachel, loghton says...
9:33am Thu 8 Nov 07

i went to bed last night and there where to ladt birds in my bed room i didnt do anything beacuse they dont hurt you but i woke up in the night in pain n looked up n my arm was missing and i was the two lady birds flying away with it out my bedroom window i didnt know what to do no one would belive me help i only have one arm !!!

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Rojda, London says...
10:37pm Fri 9 Nov 07

last month we had over 100 of these lady birds comming into our house mainly from the balcony. They looked like both of the ones in the picture but mainly in black It is starting to irritate now and the more they come the more we hoover it up:D I used to love ladybirds but now i hate them. Some how i had a lady bird in my trousers yestoday in class and started jumping up and down:D i felt so stupid but i cant help it i am just soo scared of ladybirds now even if they aren't the killer ones. I really want to know if they are harmful to us and how can we get rid of it?

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Sam, Romford says...
1:30pm Mon 12 Nov 07

We have found a few in our house over the last week and I live in Romford Essex

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Geoff, Glossop says...
9:56am Sat 17 Nov 07

Found one of these Ladybirds this morning in Glossop Derbyshire. We have captured in, what di I do with it?

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Sam, south-west london says...
12:09pm Wed 21 Nov 07

I have found 10 ladybirds inside my kitchen cupboards where the glasses and plates ae kept. Im really disturbed as i have to keep washing everything and emptying the cupboards out to disinfct them. he ladybirds are a chocoloatey brown colour. we dont have a garden as we live in a first floor apartment, i dont know how they got in! im absolutey sick of them, what can i do to get rid of them and are they poisonous?

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will, chorleywood says...
9:05am Fri 23 Nov 07

had quite a number in my bathroom (5-10), how do i get rid of them and where can i lfind for the nest?

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Ian laidlaw, Leeds, West Yorkshire says...
6:34pm Mon 26 Nov 07

I found one of these ladybirds in my kitchen today.Careful they bite !!!

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SARA, FOLKESTONE, KENT says...
6:22pm Thu 6 Dec 07

We live on the kent coast, I noticed several ladybirds in our bedroom a few weeks ago, bigger than our native type. We put them outside, then a couple of days later more were back, same again. Now tonight in DECEMBER we have just found two more. We had our window open last night, do you think they FLY at night?

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Amy, Barnes says...
9:40am Wed 12 Dec 07

I have been finding at least 5 of these ladybirds in my house daily since the fall. Last night I found one of the black and red spotted ones on my son's bed. I was worried that their presence meant that we had some kind of insect infestation inside our house that they were feeding on. I hope its just that they are coming inside to escape the cold!

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vICTORIA, SW Putney says...
9:22am Sat 15 Dec 07

Hi - have found about 10 in my flat - do i kill them? are they harmful?

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Debbie, London N16 says...
11:02am Mon 17 Dec 07

I have about 40 harlequins nestled around the top of my window frames. Occasionally they creep out. My partner is suffering from a swollen arm where we think one of them bit him. I can send them to you if you like. Please let me ASAP if you want them because their days are numbered now!

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jon atter, grantham,lincs says...
9:55pm Wed 2 Jan 08

killed a black ladybug with two red spots earlier in my house

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chris, Bolton says...
6:56pm Tue 8 Jan 08

i have caught one of these ladybirds i think it has all the features as the picture except the 2 white dots. it this the same bug i have that all of you have experienced ?? please someone reply

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Katie, High Wycombe says...
8:24pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Hi, we have been invested with ladybirds for a few months now and its worrying us. We keep on finding the usual red and black ones and also yellow and black ones but also black ones with two red spots on. There all in our bathroom and now they are in our living room.
Arn't ladybirds meant to hibernate in the winter, but these don't seem to be.

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Katie, High Wycombe says...
8:31pm Tue 8 Jan 08

'Infested'

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Genie, West London says...
11:27am Sat 12 Jan 08

We usually have spiders living in our bathroom & bedroom over the winter, but this year we have killer ladybirds and no spiders. My other half swears he has been bitten by them. How do you get rid of them? I have tried ordinary fly spray, but it doesn't seem to bother them.

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Louise, Cheshire says...
12:13pm Thu 24 Jan 08

Find up to a dozen a day here. definitely not hibernating! they are amonst the folds of the curtains, edges of carpets and even in our beds! Occassionally. Praying for severe weather to rid us of this pest!

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elena, london says...
10:47pm Sun 27 Jan 08

My mother has the problems with the ladybirds since summer 07, she has developed a bad rash in her hand a few days after they invaded her house, despite her hoovering them they still arrive in a daily basis. my mothers rush is spreading to her forearm, the doctors have tried all sorts of treatments, she has been to see a dermatologist and is now undergoing a series of test to find out what is going on, could this ladybirds have anything to do with it? my mothers hand is extremely painful, swolen and infected, has anybody experience anything like this? at first I thought my mum was exagerating, but last night I saw so many of them in her flat that i believe this could be the reason why she has developed that skin problem, is this possible? and also how can we get rid of them, we have tried everything but they still manage to get in. pleases help


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Richard, London E17 says...
3:16pm Sun 3 Feb 08

We've had them in our bathroom since last summer - definitely the ones described above. So far they've given us no trouble and so we've largely let them be - but they are increasing in numbers. We had at least twelve of them yesterday. Should we be taking a harder line with them?

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Karen, Hertfordshire says...
6:53pm Sun 3 Feb 08

I think I have caught a Asian Ladybird, that came through my bathroom window this evening. Is is black with two red spots and small black dot inside the red spots on each side. It also has white dots at the front.

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annette smyth, west london says...
7:19pm Sun 10 Feb 08

nesting in the attic, hundreds of them - what should I do?

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Roughneck 20, Zegema Beach says...
11:30pm Sat 16 Feb 08

"I say... kill them all!"

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Sabina, Hackney clapton says...
11:12pm Mon 18 Feb 08

I over in 2 days have seen 2 Black ladybirds inmy bedromm with 2 red dots nd I am beggining 2 get rely scared. I flashed 1 dwn da toilet which took several flashes to flash down the toilet and I through 1 outside my house I didnt no about it I researched nd read about it now plz post back I am awfully scared.

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neil, birmingham says...
7:34am Fri 22 Feb 08

over the past month or two iam finding more and more ladybirds in my bedroom. is their a way of keeping them out

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Sarah Butler, Balham says...
3:17pm Thu 28 Feb 08

We all seem to have lots (we have about 30 a day in the kitchen) but no one seems to know how to stop them or kill them? can someone just suggest something so we can all stop moaning about them!

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chris Shields, london says...
12:02am Tue 4 Mar 08

i have had loads of the little critters in my third floor flat.... im hovering them up but its really anoying now.

My research has lead me to using tumeric by the windows... not sure whats worse ladybirds or or curried windows????

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daniele camarda, clapham, sw london says...
10:50pm Tue 4 Mar 08

looks like no one can help us! loads of people, same problem,no answers! Anyone know Bill Oddie's phone number??

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jean walker, maidstone says...
7:39pm Tue 11 Mar 08

we have a large infestation ,we caught more than ten in test tubes,

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Fleur, Southy London says...
11:32am Fri 14 Mar 08

We seem to have a nest of black ladybirds which are coming in and swarming all over the window in my baby's nursery. I am concerned that they could bite my baby in the night as I've heard that they are ponsonous, how can I get rid of them?

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Dinar Patel, Watford, Hertfordshire says...
3:50pm Sat 15 Mar 08

I catch about 4-5 ladybirds, red and black and any number of spots every day in my flat. i've no idea how they get in. how can i stop them getting in?

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Kelly, Surrey says...
2:06pm Mon 17 Mar 08

I'm so pleased i'm not alone - i moved to a new place on Friday, and since then have killed about 15 ladybirds, mostly in my bedroom - although window has not been opened! One on their own is nice, but loads in your bedroom - not invited, not so nice! I want rid!!! Please help.

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Jan, Epsom, Surrey says...
3:36pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Didn't know about these things until I felt myself being bitten / stung on the neck. Looked down and saw one of the orange ones. Found another today. Don't like killing things but I'm going to squash these, like I do the lilly bugs

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Becca, South East London says...
10:04pm Mon 17 Mar 08

They are EVERYWHERE!! In our old flat we had about 40 of them nesting on the top of the curtain. They also have a specific smell sort of "earthy" and it's horrible. We now have them in our house and again, the same. Anyone who knows how to get rid pls post, driving me insane and I don't like creepy crawlies, ugh!

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Lox, Notts says...
1:46pm Sat 22 Mar 08

I have lots an dlots of yellow spotted like ladybirds in my house, they have taken over almost every room in the house, does anyone know how I can get rid of them? Plese help they are all over I have checked if they are comin through the windows and cant see that they could, I have looked for any nests and cannot see any either Please Help!

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gayle, west norwood says...
7:40pm Wed 26 Mar 08

I to have just moved into a new flat with recent months finding the odd baby ladybird. Their visits are now becoming more frequent with tonight being the first sighting of a gigantic adult. Searching on the net would imply they are the Asian variety. Please can somebody tell me the best way to ged rid of these pesky bugs once and for all?????

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Tim, Croydon says...
1:05pm Fri 28 Mar 08

I too have the same problem. I have to hoover up a good 20-30 a day. I've searched on the web, but can't really find a solution. The council doesn't consider them pests and hence are not interested. Any advise welcome.

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molly, norfolk says...
12:23pm Mon 31 Mar 08

We have just spotted one in the garden, quite small, but we also had a common british ladybird too.

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Julesd, Tooting, London says...
11:50pm Mon 31 Mar 08

Arrrrggggg I have them in my kitchen too.

http://uk.youtube.co
m/watch?v=ry4pKJhd-B
k

check out youtube video ry4pKJhd-Bk

They seem to hide from drum and bass if they can. Apart from that I find the only thing that gets rid of them is ghostbusting with the dyson.

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sarah pattinson, Clapham, SW11 says...
5:21pm Fri 4 Apr 08

I keep finding the little critters in my 3 yr old daughter's bedroom and I am flushing them down the loo, as I find them, having heard they can bite. They are definitely not the usual, indigenous ladybird and come in mainly orange with loads of black spots. They are coming in closed windows,too, so very focused on breaking and entering!!
quote

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Lady bugged, Surrey says...
9:44pm Fri 4 Apr 08

I have had these pests for over two years and its getting worse again I can trow out at least 30 a day for the past 2 months, please tell me how to stop them

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Bill Brown, Portsmouth says...
11:47pm Fri 4 Apr 08

We found one of the Asian Ladybirds in our garden today, it was the mainly black variety.

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Trevor, Southampton says...
12:34am Sun 6 Apr 08

I also have hubdreds of both the black and red with loads of spots as in your picture getting into my house. I am now finding the odd ladybird larvae creatures in my house. How do I stop them entering the house??!

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bev, Romford says...
12:46pm Tue 22 Apr 08

I have just found a couple of black with two spots in my garden, also quite a few red with lots of spots on clothes on my washing line.

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Peter Jones, New Barnet, London says...
8:34pm Tue 22 Apr 08

Just found a few of these in the garden. One is very unusual: All black with one large red spot on either side and a small black spot in the center of the red. The other two are the red variety with lots of black spots.
All of them have the white patches down the side of the fore-body.
Does Michael Majerus
still want them sending to him?

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Steve, Enfield says...
6:40pm Sat 3 May 08

I want to find and 'capture' a lot of ladybirds to populate my garden which is infested with green fly (instead of using bug spray). Is there any place in North London which is a good place to go to get some or how can I ncourage them to my garden. Thanks, Steve from Enfield.

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Alec Gates, sevenoaks kent says...
6:02pm Tue 6 May 08

TODAY I HAVE JUST FOUND A BLACK ASIAN LADYBIRD WITH 4 RED SPOTS AND 2 WHITE SPOTS ON ITS HEAD.It was carying a comon british ladybird and i think it was planing to eat it.Is it rare?.

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Terry Newton, Bighton says...
7:37pm Tue 6 May 08

I have found on eof these killers in my garden today.I will keep a lookout for more?

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Terry Newton, Brighton, East Sussex says...
7:42pm Tue 6 May 08

I have found one of these killers in my garden today. I will keep a lookout for any more. Is it going to be like the seventies with swarms of ladybirds in the skies???

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Diane Waitimas, South East London says...
12:03pm Fri 9 May 08

There have been a number of these "Black Ladybirds" on my Plum tree this year. Apart from the obvious threat to our national Ladybird do they actually harm the crop as the branch ends of my young Plum tree have started to wither since I saw them mating on them?

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E McAndrew, York, UK says...
11:56am Tue 10 Jun 08

Lucky you lot, I haven't seen a ladybird for months around here and am even buying them off the internet for my garden! Hmmm.... maybe I won't now if they're going to get eaten by the monnsters.

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linda Murphy, Willesden NW10 says...
11:23am Thu 19 Jun 08

Found a black ladybird with 3 red spots in my kitchen on 19.6.08, didn't know they were dangerous so threw it out in the garden.

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tracey gabriel, March Cambridgeshire says...
7:25am Fri 20 Jun 08

I have just found a black ladybird with 2 red spots in my garden it has been zapped!

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Keven Law, London says...
6:20pm Mon 23 Jun 08

I photographed one of these ladybirds yesterday in the grounds of Leeds castle, in Kent - See here... http://www.flickr.co

m/photos/66164549@N0

0/
If I had known it was a killer I would have delt with it, because I saw 2 and also a normal red English one in the same place, which is probably now been eaten..:O((
Hope this helps, regards Keven.

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s. quayle, Plymouth says...
5:57pm Thu 26 Jun 08

found 1 today, am going to try to find a way to exterminate them and pass the message on!

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j sayer, canterbury kent says...
3:51pm Fri 27 Jun 08

large black ladybird with four mustard coloured spots on its back the first two spots where half moon shape(Is this a killer ladybird)

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scoot and sarah, cornwall says...
12:41pm Wed 2 Jul 08

that is wrong why are they having sexy time?! not educational so there not killin each other just humping you pervert!!!!!!!

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Claire, london says...
2:59pm Sun 13 Jul 08

i never new abou these until i found 1 sitting on my arm!!!

DO THEY KILL HUMANS?

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Julian, London says...
11:43am Fri 18 Jul 08

Over the last 2 years have noticed an increase in these lady birds and saw one of the black ones with 2 red dots in east finchley yesterday.

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mackenzie, Stevenage says...
5:14pm Sun 27 Jul 08

hello i live in stevenage and as i was walking down my garden i spotted 1 black ladybird which had 2 red spots but it also had instead of a black spot inside the red spot, it had a green spot inside it. i wanted to keep it because i thought that these were quite rare, but as i've read this, i see it isn't rare but it proberbly is in my area. i would thing that this iwas an asian type of ladybird but im not sure im only 12

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Nicole, Wirral says...
3:57pm Wed 6 Aug 08

Ok, not sure if this is one - but caught a black one with two red dots - no white on the front of the body - its the first one I seen - and luckily knew about them before I seen it - I have caught it in a cup too :-) so if you want it, I will send it :-)

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Two Asian Ladybirds including one of the unusual mainly black variants Two Asian Ladybirds including one of the unusual mainly black variants

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