Saving our native ladybirds

Learn about the threats towards and how to save our native UK ladybird population.

The gardener's friend

The ladybird has long been appreciated as the gardener's friend. They eat numerous different garden pests including aphids, mealy bugs and coccids and are an attractive addition to the British garden.

The threat

However, over the past decade or so the harlequin ladybird has been wreaking havoc on our native UK ladybird population. A highly territorial species and deliberately introduced to mainland Europe as a pest control in the 90s, the harlequin ladybird has a particularly voracious appetite which consists of lacewings, aphids and other types of ladybirds.

How you can help

Although there is no known deterrent or non-chemical prevention of the harlequin ladybird, studies are being carried out at the moment to find a way of getting rid of harlequins using pheromones. You can take part in the national monitoring and surveying of our native and harlequin ladybirds by going to the National Ladybird Survey.