One and a Half Ladybird - _TNY_5225
On the left, a fourteen-spotted ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) and on the right, a pupae containing what will emerge as a harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, also known as the Asian lady beetle.
The latter was introduced in Europe as a biological pest control in greenhouses as they eat aphids with a considerably greater appetite than the common seven-spot ladybird.
Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly), they didn't stay in the greenhouses and when they got out into the nature, it turned out that their appetite wasn't limited to just aphids. It is considered an invasive species, but by now, it should be considered established here.From time to time, I see people thinking they must kill every harlequin they see - but not only does it no make a difference at this point, the result is that a lot of other species are killed as well.
You see, this species is extremely variable in colour and pattern which combined with people hardly being aware of there being loads and loads of other ladybird species and not just the seven-spot one so when they see an odd-looking one (like the fourteen-spot here on the left), they think "It's a harlequin!" and kill it.
As it is so variable I can't really say exactly how the one in the pupae will look, but here is one possibility: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50271863526/
One and a Half Ladybird - _TNY_5225
On the left, a fourteen-spotted ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) and on the right, a pupae containing what will emerge as a harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, also known as the Asian lady beetle.
The latter was introduced in Europe as a biological pest control in greenhouses as they eat aphids with a considerably greater appetite than the common seven-spot ladybird.
Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly), they didn't stay in the greenhouses and when they got out into the nature, it turned out that their appetite wasn't limited to just aphids. It is considered an invasive species, but by now, it should be considered established here.From time to time, I see people thinking they must kill every harlequin they see - but not only does it no make a difference at this point, the result is that a lot of other species are killed as well.
You see, this species is extremely variable in colour and pattern which combined with people hardly being aware of there being loads and loads of other ladybird species and not just the seven-spot one so when they see an odd-looking one (like the fourteen-spot here on the left), they think "It's a harlequin!" and kill it.
As it is so variable I can't really say exactly how the one in the pupae will look, but here is one possibility: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50271863526/