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| Ladybirds |
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Adult
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Ladybirds will feed and reproduce from the spring and into the summer.
Breeding generally begins in May, but is dependant on the weather, and in most cases the presence of food.
Each adult eats many aphids per day and will lay 20-50 eggs daily.
In some species a female can lay as many as 1000 eggs .
Egg laying continues on into July
These hatch into larvae that are up to 12mm long, and are recognized by their greyish black bodies with orange-red or white markings, these larvae can eat up to 100 aphids per day!
Many species prey on only aphids but some specialise in eating scale insects, red spider mites or even powdery mildew spores.
In the autumn, they look for hibernating homes in which to over-winter.
The Ladybird adults overwinter often in large groups in any place they can find that is dry and if possible out of the wind.
It is now possible to purchase habitats suited for this purpose.
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