Beach-goes 'flee to cars' as ladybird swarming 'biggest ever'

Daily Mirror

14-07-2025

People across the UK are reporting huge numbers of ladybirds in towns and cities and even on beaches as the perfect conditions have led to a boom in the insects
Experts are sounding the alarm over a surge in ladybird populations, fuelled by the ideal combination of intermittent rain and warm spells. This past weekend, social media was abuzz with clips showing 'huge numbers' of these beetles as Brits grappled with 'millions' invading beaches and other spots amid the scorching heatwave.
A TikTok video captured the scene at Weston Super Mare, where the ladybirds swarmed the sandy stretches, clambered over sunseekers, and blanketed cars and other vehicles. Beachgoers were seen scrambling to their vehicles, slamming doors shut to avoid the onslaught.
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In another incident at Weston, the beetles were caught on camera as they took to the skies, engulfing a seafront eatery just yesterday. The England versus India cricket match at Lord's was momentarily halted last Thursday when a deluge of ladybirds, thriving in the hot conditions, caused a stir among the players.
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An expert has noted that ladybirds are appearing in 'very high numbers' this year due to the warmth, following an interruption at the cricket game.
This phenomenon comes hot on the heels of the UK's flying ant day, where similar weather patterns led to massive swarms of those insects too.
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The sudden appearance of these creatures at Lord's in London last Thursday caused a brief disruption during England's face-off against India on the opening day of the third Rothesay Test.
England's vice-captain Ollie Pope remarked on the unusual event. "I've never seen that, no," he commented post-match.
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"That's a first that the crowd have got that today."
Ecologist and ladybird specialist, Professor Helen Roy from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, has revealed: "Many species of aphid-feeding ladybird such as the seven-spot ladybird are being seen in very high numbers this year.
"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.
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"If people want to help insects and other wildlife in this weather they can leave shallow dishes with a little water for them. Also, we encourage people to leave the aphids in their garden on roses and other plants so there is plenty of food for ladybirds."
To fill in the ladybird survey click here.
Tim Coulson, professor of zoology and head of biology at the University of Oxford, urged people to "learn to love" ladybirds. "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," he said.
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"Ladybirds eat aphids, and an abundance of aphids mean 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."
Dr Peter Brown, associate professor in ecology and conservation at Anglia Ruskin University, cheekily pointed out: "Much in the way that wolves keep deer numbers in check in some parts of the world, ladybirds keep aphid numbers down. 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."
He fondly recalled the last "boom year" for ladybirds being the scorching summer of '76, although he did note that there have been more isolated booms since then.
"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," he clarified.
As an organiser of the UK Ladybird Survey, Dr Brown emphasised that we should welcome the ladybird population's uptick due to the current warm conditions as an unalloyed good.