| There are 42 species
of ladybirds in this country. The largest as 6mm and the
smallest is just 2mm. They can be red and black, yellow
and black and even orange and white. The bold colour is to
warn birds that they are unpalatable. Ladybirds and lace
birds feed mainly on aphids (greenfly) Each adult will
consume about 30 aphids every day. It lays a batch of tiny
yellow eggs, each of which will become a little black
ladybird larva. The larva have just 24hrs to find their
first aphid and half do not succeed. The larva will eat 50
Aphids a day for three weeks, then it pupates. Ladybirds
also eat mealy-bugs, thrips, spider mites and scale
insects.
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Ladybird,
Ladybird,
Fly away home,
Your house is on fire,
Your children are gone,
All except one,
Her name is Ann,
And she crept under the frying pan.
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This rhyme refers to the seasonal burning
of hop vines, when ladybirds had to fly to escape the
fire.
You can build up your own colony of
ladybirds and lacewings by providing them with a safe
place to hibernate. |
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