The Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axiridis. Originally Asian, it was introduced into America as a form of pest control in the early 1900’s but did not become established there until the 1980’s. Unfortunately, the problems caused by the Harlequin were not widely known until after the Harlequin was also introduced into a number of European countries, again as a pest control.
The Harlequin has “escaped its natural enemies” and is considered to be invasive because:
It is regarded as a human nuisance; it hibernates in aggregations in buildings - thousands have been reported.
It is a grape and vine pest, also eating other fruits.
It is a threat to native species. It adds to its diet by eating other native ladybird larvae along with the eggs and larvae of beetles and butterflies.
How can you tell if you’ve found a Harlequin?
Unfortunately the Harlequin is very variable in colouration and this can make it very difficult to tell apart from our native species.
Elytra (in common with other beetles, these are actually the fore-wings that have become hardened to form wing cases which protect the hind wings and soft body parts) can be yellow/orange, orange/red, red or black with 0 to 21 spots arranged in a grid pattern.
A general guide is; If it is less than 5-6mm long then it is not a Harlequin. If it is red with exactly 7 black spots then it is a 7-spot. If the white patches at the sides of the pronotum (thoracic area) extend all the way to the back of the pronotum then it could be a Harlequin. The white areas of a 7-spot extend approximately only half way back. The white pronotum patches of the Eyed and 2-spot extend to the rear but the Eyed has a pale ring around each of its
Harlequins have brown legs.
Inevitably it found its way into the UK. It was first recorded in England in 2004, and reached Scotland in 2007. It is regularly encountered in Ox Close.
Here are photographs of ladybirds that have been found in Ox Close.
