• Question: Are black lady bugs the same as red lady birds? If not, how are they different?

    Asked by jade.proctor to Natalie, Keith, Abbey, Aaron on 18 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Natalie Garrett

      Natalie Garrett answered on 18 Nov 2015:


      There are 46 different species of ladybird! Some are native to this country, and some are invasive species, such as the harlequins (this means they have come from another country).

      You can identify different species of ladybird on this handy sheet:

      http://www.harlequin-survey.org/downloads/Ladybird%20descriptions_Info%20pack_NEW_v.5.pdf

      The harlequins eat different things to the native British ladybirds, some are even cannibals.

    • Photo: Aaron Boardley

      Aaron Boardley answered on 18 Nov 2015:


      The different colours are different species. They’ll largely act the same way from our perspective – but they’ll differ in things like where they live and what exactly they like to eat.

    • Photo: Keith Franklin

      Keith Franklin answered on 19 Nov 2015:


      Have you ever thought whether ladybirds are red with black spots – or black, covered in red with a few gaps?

      Sometime it is interesting to think about things in a different ay.

      As to how are they different – I don’t know! (sorry)

Comments