Beachgoers have been left scrambling to their vehicles after enormous swarms of ladybirds descended on UK coastal areas, marking the largest invasion of the red beetles since the record-breaking summer of 1976.
Social media clips show huge plagues of the insects invading beaches at Weston-super-Mare, crawling over tourists and coating cars in their thousands. Horrified sun-seekers raced to their motors, clambering inside and shutting doors to avoid the relentless stream of beetles.
The extraordinary phenomenon comes as England experiences a string of heatwaves this year, bringing scorching temperatures and drought conditions that have created perfect breeding conditions for the insects.
Restaurant Invasion
The bugs have been seen flocking to restaurants in the popular Somerset tourist destination, landing on tables, customers and dinner plates. One establishment was forced to deal with thousands of the beetles as diners attempted to enjoy their meals.
Residents across the South East have reported seeing “millions” of ladybirds, with researchers explaining that the insects prefer to forage in coastal areas when searching for food during population booms.
“There was loads flying about,” one resident told reporters. “One landed on my face and other ones were landing on my dogs.”
Cricket Match Disrupted
The scale of the invasion became national news last week when England’s third test match against India at Lord’s was temporarily halted due to a swarm of ladybirds attacking the cricketers. The unprecedented disruption left players and spectators stunned.
England’s vice-captain Ollie Pope expressed his amazement at the incident: “I’ve never seen that, no. That’s a first that the crowd have got that today.”
The brief pause in play highlighted the extraordinary nature of this year’s ladybird population explosion, bringing the phenomenon to international attention.
Expert Explanations
Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist and ladybird specialist from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, explained the surge in numbers: “Many species of aphid-feeding ladybird such as the seven-spot ladybird are being seen in very high numbers this year.”
She attributed the boom to a combination of factors: “This is a consequence of the high aphid numbers and warm weather. People are reporting many sightings to the UK Ladybird Survey through iRecord, which is fantastic.”
The professor encouraged people to help the insects during the hot weather by leaving shallow dishes with water and advised gardeners to leave aphids on their roses and plants to provide food for the ladybirds.
Natural Pest Control
Tim Coulson, professor of zoology and head of biology at the University of Oxford, urged the public to “learn to love” the swarming insects rather than fear them.
“Warm weather means more aphids because they can complete each generation faster – insects, including ladybirds and aphids, tend to speed up their lives in warm weather,” Professor Coulson explained.
He emphasised their ecological importance: “Ladybirds eat aphids, and an abundance of aphids means ladybirds have a lot to eat. People should learn to love the ladybirds. They are effective predators of aphids, which can be a major pest of many plant species.”
Drawing a wildlife comparison, he added: “Much in the way that wolves keep deer numbers in check in some parts of the world, ladybirds keep aphid numbers down.”
Historic Comparison
Dr Peter Brown, an associate professor in ecology and conservation at Anglia Ruskin University, revealed that the current swarm rivals the legendary invasion of 1976, one of the hottest and driest summers on record.
In 1976, there were a lot of seven-spot ladybirds on the beaches as they searched for food and people thought they were invading – they were not, as they are native to the UK,” Dr Brown explained.
According to the British Entomological and Natural History Society, that summer saw an estimated 23 billion ladybirds swarm the southern and eastern coasts of England, creating one of the most remarkable insect phenomena in British history.
Positive Environmental Sign
Despite the inconvenience to beachgoers and diners, experts stress that the ladybird boom should be viewed positively. Dr Brown, who helps organise the UK Ladybird Survey, noted that whilst there have been smaller localised increases in intervening years, nothing has matched the scale of 1976 until now.
“The increase in numbers should be seen as a positive and the current warm conditions were the reason,” he stated, emphasising that the ladybirds are performing their natural role in the ecosystem.
Public Response
Roger Fry, a witness at Weston-super-Mare, described the dramatic scenes: “Weston’s seafront and beach was noticeably quiet for a hot Sunday afternoon. I stopped the car and was soon engulfed in a swarm of ladybirds. Any pedestrians venturing out of their vehicles were soon swiping the air around their heads and exposed arms.”
The swarms have created surreal scenes along Britain’s coastlines, with some beaches appearing to be carpeted in red as millions of the insects search for food and water.
Ecological Reminder
Professor Coulson concluded with a philosophical observation about the cricket match disruption: “A swarm of ladybirds in a cricket game, even against India, should remind people of the role that predators play in keeping the ecology of Earth in a healthy state.
As Britain continues to experience extreme weather patterns, the ladybird invasion serves as a vivid reminder of how climate conditions can dramatically affect insect populations and the delicate balance of nature.
Local authorities have advised people to remain calm if encountering swarms and to remember that ladybirds are harmless to humans whilst providing valuable pest control services in gardens and agricultural areas.
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Image Credit:
Photo of a seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) on a flower in the “Viernheimer Waldheide und angrenzende Flächen” protected area by Heike Weiler / BfN, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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