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1st Ladybird of 2015!

  • 17-02-2015 2:16pm
    #1
    delthedriver
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,958 ✭✭✭


    Just come in from my garden after a mooch around examining shrubs and estimating amount of work ahead over coming weeks and months.

    To my astonishment I found a ladybird, is this a sign of a scorching summer to come. Funnily I also found a bee on my driveway last week.

    Spring has sprung !:)


Comments

  • #2
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    No! beat you there! Saw a cluster of about 6 ladybirds on a twig, last week.


  • #3
    Sonnenblumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,834 ✭✭✭Sonnenblumen


    delthedriver wrote: »
    Just come in from my garden after a mooch around examining shrubs and estimating amount of work ahead over coming weeks and months.

    To my astonishment I found a ladybird, is this a sign of a scorching summer to come. Funnily I also found a bee on my driveway last week.

    Spring has sprung !:)

    A pleasant and welcome surprise indeed But I would have thought still a little early for them to be active after winter dormancy? Many hibernate in dense trees, which is why it is not unusual to find a few confused stragglers indoors in December after being abruptly woken and falling off the Christmas tree.


  • #4
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Sonnenblumen wrote: »
    A pleasant and welcome surprise indeed But I would have thought still a little early for them to be active after winter dormancy? Many hibernate in dense trees, which is why it is not unusual to find a few confused stragglers indoors in December after being abruptly woken and falling off the Christmas tree.

    The ones I saw were on the south east coast, a tight cluster on an exposed twig in quite cold weather. They certainly were not active, though it didn't seem like a very sensible place to hibernate.


  • #5
    beertons
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 23,211 ✭✭✭✭beertons


    Wouldn't have been much of a holiday for them, I saw 2 Christmas week.


  • #6
    evolving_doors
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    First pic wins the prize!

    Actually come to think of it, did anyone think the ladybird numbers were up last year?


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  • #7
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Armelodie wrote: »
    First pic wins the prize!

    Actually come to think of it, did anyone think the ladybird numbers were up last year?

    Yes, I seem to recall there were loads of them - and this was the year before http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/08/21/meanwhile-in-wexford-8/


  • #8
    evolving_doors
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭evolving_doors


    looksee wrote: »
    Yes, I seem to recall there were loads of them - and this was the year before http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/08/21/meanwhile-in-wexford-8/

    Wow look out greenfly!


  • #9
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,095 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Armelodie wrote: »
    Wow look out greenfly!

    Come to think of it I recall there were not many greenfly last year, did anyone else think the same?


  • #10
    FaulknersFav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72 ✭✭FaulknersFav


    Not sure if I'm right to post here but it's ladybird related!! I moved into an old apartment that has four large sash windows that are south facing. Everyday I am finding a couple of dead ladybirds on the window sills :(

    Sometimes they are still alive, is it better to leave them where they are or put them outside, to increase their chances of living?! It's terrible to keep finding dead little guys, I don't mind leaving them inside at all if it's better as I presume they just had a nest over the winter?


  • #11
    Iranoutofideas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭Iranoutofideas


    Can you post a photo of them? These might be the invasive species of ladybird. You don't want them released.


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  • #12
    FaulknersFav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72 ✭✭FaulknersFav


    There are black ones with red spots and vice versa? I'll get a picture up, thanks!!


  • #13
    FaulknersFav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72 ✭✭FaulknersFav


    http://imageshack.com/a/img538/419/Crz8aB.jpg

    http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3460/AsWUrq.jpg


    Here is a picture of each.


  • #14
    Lex Luthor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    a bee came into the garden over the weekend and was fairly big

    also my tulips are still not even in bud yet and I usually have them practically in full bloom by Paddys day, what does that say?


  • #15
    Iranoutofideas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭Iranoutofideas


    FaulknersFav wrote: »
    http://imageshack.com/a/img538/419/Crz8aB.jpg

    http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3460/AsWUrq.jpg


    Here is a picture of each.

    I think those black ones might be the invasive Harlequin ladybird. Might want to post a thread in the nature forum as people there can confirm. They are bad news

    thread here on them - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056080535&page=2


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