Ladybirds

[burnhal]

Anyone else got ladybirds going through metamorphosis? Our hazel tree is covered with them- at all stages- the black and orange larval stage fastens itself to the leaf with a ticky thread. It starts to curl up and raises its front end up and down. It then becomes a pale yellow blob of more ladybird shape- this hardens and gradually becomes orange and black. Finally from inside this shell crawls a ladybird- very pale in colour and soft which hides away to harden and the colours brighten. Bit of an anorak I know but the whole process is fascinating

[Rosetta]

I've never seen that burnal, it sounds fascinating. Must look to see if there is any video of it on the web.

[corylus]

you're so lucky, we used to have hundreds of ladybirds here but I haven't seen one so far this year.

[shaneystar2]

Hi burnhal ..how are you ...
Swarming around all over the place here in Norfolk by the sea for several days now .Washing was covered in them yesterday and last night we had them all on the curtains in the bedroom ! Wish I had taken some pictures. Heavy downpour this morning and they seem to be in hiding but the sun is out again now so perhaps they'll be back or they may be on their way to see Robinia :))
I saw on the news that they had the same thing in Somerset .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/81 68676.stm