THOUSANDS of ladybirds have been spotted gathering on homes across the UK this week.
From flying outside to swarming households, the colourful insects have caused a stir among Brits.
People have reported “swarms” of ladybirds outside their homes this week, with some households reportedly invaded by hundreds of the tiny bugs.
On Monday, October 6, UK residents took to social media with claims that ladybirds are “everywhere”.
“I don’t know what’s going on but there’s loads of ladybirds outside casually swarming around my house!” wrote one X user.
Another person asked: “Ladybirds everywhere! Is this the equivalent of flying ant day?”
However, experts have assured the British public that there is no need to panic.
They attributed the sudden surge in sightings to the insects’ annual autumn migration.
Ladybirds embark on this life cycle as they seek shelter ahead of the colder months.
Expert opinion
Professor Helen Roy at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and University of Exeter spoke to the Manchester Evening News about the occurence.
“Winter is a tough time for ladybirds in Britain and so during the winter months they become dormant,” she said.
“Each species has a favoured place to spend the winter – some such as harlequin ladybirds enter buildings while 7-spot ladybirds tuck themselves under leaf litter.”
She added that warm early October days are the ideal time for the insect to find a habitat to overwinter.
And since it is the ladybirds’ instinct to find warm, sheltered places this quest often leads them indoors, into our homes.
Max Barclay, Senior Curator of Beetles at the Natural History Museum, spoke about the hibernation patterns of ladbirds.
“There are a number of species of ladybirds that hibernate in big clusters,” he explained.
“Ancestrally, harlequin ladybirds would probably have hibernated in big clusters in caves, hollow trees, and other sheltered places.”
If these are not readily available, ladybirds may enter homes through the small gaps along the edges of loose-fitting windows.
What to do if you spot them
But don’t fret if you do spot these insects in your home, there’s a simple solution.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology shared a blog post advising home owners of the best action to take.
Experts recommended capturing or ignoring the ladybirds rather than killing them.
“Perhaps gather them gently into a box and put them in an outbuilding if they are in the way but, otherwise, just leave them where they are if possible,” they suggested.
So while it might feel like the UK’s under a ladybird invasion, experts assure us it’s simply a natural sign that autumn has arrived.
More on insects
And the “invasion” comes just months after hundreds of ladybirds “swarmed” the UK this summer.
Beachgoers were even left “hiding in cars” in the biggest ladybird plague since 1976.
And a new insect with “praying hands” has been spotted in England for the first time.
Plus, a warning has been issued as the “UK’s most dangerous spider” invades beds and underwear.
Another urgent warning has been shared as more killer Asian hornet nests have been found in the UK.
