Is this a Harlequin

Has anyone seen a ladybird like this one.
Could it be a harlequin, from the continent.
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/

 

Hi Pete
No, its not a Harlequin (which do prey on our own ladybirds) - its one of our own with fused spots - they do happen about occasionally - no worries!
Have a look here to see one in action!
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2005/march/news_3416.html

 

Sorry but I'm still not convinced, if you look at my link there are some harlequins that look very similar, in fact the whole point about it is that the harlequin comes in many differing colours.

 

Its too close to call. I think you should log it as a possible harlequin on your link Pete.

We are getting more and more foreign horrors like harlequins and lily beetles with no native predators to control them. Too many imported plants from Dutch nurseries and too many holiday makers bringing insect eggs and viruses back on clandestine plant souvenirs. That, combined with rising temperatures is going to be a real disaster for our native creatures and garden plants.

 

Well, its a problem that has been around for many, many years already. We have a population of very nasy rogue mosquitoes near to us which have been here for at leat 3 decades, brought over by the cargo ships. There is also a very healthy and well documented population of scorpions around Dover who have been around for at least 100 years.... its not a new problem. How many times have you been in an aircraft comming back from holiday and a fly or two has sneaked in??????? So its not only sneaky souveniers and tulips to blame....

 

Yeah I know what you mean HB, you cant stop the inevitable from happening, We're being overun in allsots of ways.

 

Our natives could be regarded as migrants (mostly from down south)anyway - how much veg was there, and how diverse the fauna, north of the Thames in the last Ice Age? The ecology of the countryside has more and greater pressures than those fairly few succesful introduced species. I think it is fair (if not complete) to argue that many of those 'successes' might only be arriving faster than they would have done by natural means. I reckon the GM industry is my No1 contender for cocking up the countryside - not that they have done it yet, just that their ideas of science fall well short of credibility and the evidence is strengthening that they don't really care to look at what they are (profiting from) releasing and where it will lead.

 

GM is something that I have yet to be explained to me.
I dont think the general public know enough about what it entails and how it can alter the countryside.
My no1 contender for cocking up the whole country is the housing developer.
If he's not stopped along with a rising population, not much else is going to matter.

 

Is this the same thing? Snapped on my hand 22nd June. He was a big fellah!

 

Well it looks similar Jasid

 

I've only seen the "normal" ladybirds here!

Following on from what Honey Bee said, there is a colony of geckoos living in Ventor, IoW, and I have many a time seen them scurrying about there. Supposedly they are the only colony living off mainland Europe! At least I have my ltitle critters still around when I go back so don't have to miss them! :rolleyes: