The harlequin arrives!

I knew it was coming but it doesn’t make its arrival any less welcome. Yes, the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) has finally arrived in my garden. I thought I saw one individual last year but wasn’t 100% sure. This year there’s sadly no doubt:

The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - succinea variant

The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - succinea variant

The harlequin ladybird arrived in Britain in 2004 and has been spreading rapidly ever since. The ladybird out competes with our native ladybirds and also eats their eggs and young.

We also have the larvae in the garden too:

Harlequin ladybird larvae

Harlequin ladybird larvae