Latest news with #StuartReynolds
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Huge swarm of LADYBIRDS hits Britain in largest sighting since 1976 – with baffled Brits forced to hide in their cars
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE UK is facing the largest "ladybird invasion" since 1976, with Brits being forced to hide in their cars. Thousands of ladybirds have hit towns and cities nationwide as experts have said it is the largest sighting in almost 50 years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Brits have posted videos showing the insects descending on seaside towns like Western-Super-Mare Credit: TikTok/@kellyannewedding 3 The UK is facing the largest swam of ladybirds since 1976 Credit: Getty 3 Scientists have said it is a result of the warmer weather Credit: TikTok/@alishalinney Scientists have said this is due to the hot weather. Videos on social media show the swarming bugs, as seaside towns like Weston-Super-Mare are rife with insects. Described as a "ladybird apocalypse", the spotted bugs can be seen covering surfaces. One viral video shows benches and umbrellas coated in the insects. The user urged people considering coming to the beach to bring a face mask. Another video showed a woman in a white top with her back covered in ladybirds. She captioned the video: "Take this as your sign to not go to the beach today and get swamped by ladybugs." Professor Stuart Reynolds told MailOnline that the "recent hot, dry weather" was a factor in the influx of bugs. He added that: "Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem." The sunny weather conditions have likely led to an increase in aphids, which ladybirds eat. I laid on the beach for just ONE hour but the sunburn was brutal and left me looking like a wasp-stung dog - don't make my mistake Professor Reynolds believes that this in turn has led to a boom in ladybird populations. While Brits might be concerned, Reynolds offered reassurance that they have "absolutely nothing to worry about". They might give you "a little nip" but are unlikely to cause any damage. Instead he said we should welcome and celebrate the bugs. It comes after Britain has faced gloriously warm sunshine, with temperatures peaking at 34C last Friday. Ladybirds' life cycles speed up during the warmer weather, as more insects are born. However, Brits might see a decline in ladybirds in the coming months. The recent hot weather has caused vegetation and aphids to die off. With nothing left to eat, they might start to migrate elsewhere. Ladybirds can be advantageous to farmers as it keeps numbers of pest species down, reducing the need for insecticides. Similarly, wasps have seen a rise in the UK after finishing their hibernation early. Brits might see jumbo nests earlier than usual, as warmer weather has moved forward their usual September-October schedule.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Huge swarm of LADYBIRDS hits Britain in largest sighting since 1976 – with baffled Brits forced to hide in their cars
THE UK is facing the largest "ladybird invasion" since 1976, with Brits being forced to hide in their cars. Thousands of ladybirds have hit towns and cities nationwide as experts have said it is the largest sighting in almost 50 years. 3 3 3 Scientists have said this is due to the hot weather. Videos on social media show the swarming bugs, as seaside towns like Weston-Super-Mare are rife with insects. Described as a "ladybird apocalypse", the spotted bugs can be seen covering surfaces. One viral video shows benches and umbrellas coated in the insects. The user urged people considering coming to the beach to bring a face mask. Another video showed a woman in a white top with her back covered in ladybirds. She captioned the video: "Take this as your sign to not go to the beach today and get swamped by ladybugs." Professor Stuart Reynolds told MailOnline that the "recent hot, dry weather" was a factor in the influx of bugs. He added that: "Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem." The sunny weather conditions have likely led to an increase in aphids, which ladybirds eat. Professor Reynolds believes that this in turn has led to a boom in ladybird populations. While Brits might be concerned, Reynolds offered reassurance that they have "absolutely nothing to worry about". They might give you "a little nip" but are unlikely to cause any damage. Instead he said we should welcome and celebrate the bugs. It comes after Britain has faced gloriously warm sunshine, with temperatures peaking at 34C last Friday. Ladybirds' life cycles speed up during the warmer weather, as more insects are born. However, Brits might see a decline in ladybirds in the coming months. The recent hot weather has caused vegetation and aphids to die off. With nothing left to eat, they might start to migrate elsewhere. Ladybirds can be advantageous to farmers as it keeps numbers of pest species down, reducing the need for insecticides. Similarly, wasps have seen a rise in the UK after finishing their hibernation early. Brits might see jumbo nests earlier than usual, as warmer weather has moved forward their usual September-October schedule. The boom and bust of ladybirds Experts have said that the influx of ladybirds has been caused partly by "recent hot, dry weather". It has led to an increase in aphids which ladybirds eat. This in turn has led to a boom in ladybirds. The warm weather also speeds up their life cycles meaning more insects are born. Once the weather gets too hot it can cause aphids to die, and ladybird populations will decline again.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Huge swarm of LADYBIRDS hits Britain in largest sighting since 1976 – with baffled Brits forced to hide in their cars
THE UK is facing the largest "ladybird invasion" since 1976, with Brits being forced to hide in their cars. Thousands of ladybirds have hit towns and cities nationwide as experts have said it is the largest sighting in almost 50 years. Advertisement 3 Brits have posted videos showing the insects descending on seaside towns like Western-Super-Mare Credit: TikTok/@kellyannewedding 3 The UK is facing the largest swam of ladybirds since 1976 Credit: Getty 3 Scientists have said it is a result of the warmer weather Credit: TikTok/@alishalinney Scientists have said this is due to the Videos on social media show the swarming bugs, as seaside towns like Described as a "ladybird apocalypse", the spotted bugs can be seen covering surfaces. One viral video shows benches and umbrellas coated in the insects. Advertisement Read more Tech The user urged people considering coming to the beach to bring a face mask. Another video showed a woman in a white top with her back She captioned the video: "Take this as your sign to not go to the beach today and get swamped by ladybugs." Professor Stuart Reynolds told Advertisement Most read in Science Exclusive Exclusive He added that: "Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem." The sunny weather conditions have likely led to an I laid on the beach for just ONE hour but the sunburn was brutal and left me looking like a wasp-stung dog - don't make my mistake Professor Reynolds believes that this in turn has led to a boom in ladybird populations. While Brits might be concerned, Reynolds offered reassurance that they have "absolutely nothing to worry about". Advertisement They might give you "a little nip" but are unlikely to cause any damage. Instead he said we should welcome and celebrate the bugs. It comes after Britain has faced Ladybirds' life cycles speed up during the warmer weather, as more insects are born. Advertisement However, Brits might see a decline in ladybirds in the coming months. The recent hot weather has caused vegetation and aphids to die off. With nothing left to eat, they might start to migrate elsewhere. Ladybirds can be advantageous to farmers as it keeps numbers of pest species down, reducing the need for insecticides. Advertisement Similarly, Brits might see jumbo nests earlier than usual, as warmer weather has moved forward their usual September-October schedule. The boom and bust of ladybirds Experts have said that the influx of ladybirds has been caused partly by "recent hot, dry weather". It has led to an increase in aphids which ladybirds eat. This in turn has led to a boom in ladybirds. The warm weather also speeds up their life cycles meaning more insects are born. Once the weather gets too hot it can cause aphids to die, and ladybird populations will decline again.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Massive ladybird swarm descends on UK, largest Since 1976
Britons have been forced to take shelter in their cars as thousands of ladybirds descend on towns and cities across the country. In seaside resorts like Weston-Super-Mare, beachgoers faced a 'ladybird apocalypse' as 'millions' of the insects covered every available surface. On Thursday, a sudden swarm of beetles even brought about a temporary pause in play at the Lord's test match against India. Experts say this is the largest sighting since the famous 'ladybird invasion' of 1976. Scientists say that these sudden swarms are due to the recent spell of hot weather, just like the exceptionally hot summer of 1976. On TikTok, several users have shared videos of ladybird swarms descending on UK towns. In one viral clip, a woman is covered in the swarming bugs as the caption reads: 'Take this as your sign not to go to the beach today.' Other posts show ladybirds crawling in their hundreds over prams, cars, umbrellas and even people's food. Professor Stuart Reynolds, an insect biologist from the University of Bath, told MailOnline: 'Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem, but it's for sure that the recent hot, dry weather has something to do with it. My suggestion is that favourable weather conditions over the last few months have led to a boom in aphid numbers on crop land and woodland. Ladybirds eat aphids, so this has led to a consequent boom in ladybirds.' Although the sightings might seem alarming, Professor Reynolds claims there is 'absolutely nothing to worry about.' Professor Reynolds says: 'It's happened before and will happen again. Boom and bust cycles are common in nature. Ladybirds may give you just a little nip sometimes - just to check whether you are edible or maybe because your skin is a bit salty - but they won't do any damage. It's not a plague! Ladybirds are lovely and we should celebrate them! Everyone loves a ladybird!' Over the last few weeks, Britain's weather has been exceptionally warm, with temperatures peaking at 34.7°C (94.5°F) last Friday. Like all insects, ladybirds and aphids speed up their life cycles during the warm weather, which means more insects are born. However, the recent heatwaves have been so hot and dry that both vegetation and aphids have started to die off. 'The last few weeks have been unfavourable to aphids, so that the poor ladybirds now have nothing to eat,' says Professor Reynolds. This leads them to fly off looking for grub elsewhere.' In addition to food, the ladybirds are also coming together to find mates, which leads to even larger local swarms. Although it might seem like it on social media, the insects probably aren't deliberately making their way to the beach. Professor Reynolds says that there are probably swarms 'all over the place', but they just happen to be more obvious in busy seaside towns like Weston-Super-Mare. Despite their alarming appearance, the experts say that we should welcome the swarms with open arms. Seeing so many ladybirds is a particularly good sign since they are a key predator as well as being a food source for larger animals like birds. Professor Tim Coulson, science author and biologist at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline: 'Predators, like ladybirds, are incredibly important components of ecosystems. Take away predators, and all hell breaks loose. We should cherish our ladybirds! Definitely do not kill the ladybirds as they keep the numbers of pest species down. Much better to have ladybirds than to spray crops with insecticides to kill the aphids.' Likewise, Professor Helen Roy, one of the world's leading ladybird experts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, told MailOnline: 'Ladybirds are much-loved insects. So, I hope people can enjoy seeing so many ladybirds and celebrate these incredible insects.' Ladybirds aren't the only insects to have swarmed the UK amid the recent warm weather. Britain has also faced a surge of wasps, an expert has warned. Andrew Dellbridge of Ace Pest Control in Norfolk said the spring sunshine had lured wasps out of hibernation early, giving them more time to grow. And though they'll die off come winter, the head start means this year's nests are already surpassing last year's in size, with months still to go. Now wasps are experiencing a 'population explosion', Mr Dellbridge said, and Britain faces a wave of jumbo nests before winter.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Huge swarm of LADYBIRDS hits the UK: Terrified Brits are forced to hide in their cars as thousands of beetles descend on towns and cities - in largest sighting since 1976
Britons have been forced to take shelter in their cars as thousands of ladybirds descend on towns and cities across the country. In seaside resorts like Weston-Super-Mare, beachgoers faced a 'ladybird apocalypse' as 'millions' of the insects covered every available surface. On Thursday, a sudden swarm of beetles even brought about a temporary pause in play at the Lord's test match against India. Experts say this is the largest sighting since the famous 'ladybird invasion' of 1976. Scientists say that these sudden swarms are due to the recent spell of hot weather, just like the exceptionally hot summer of 1976. On TikTok, several users have shared videos of ladybird swarms descending on UK towns. In one viral clip, a woman is covered in the swarming bugs as the caption reads: 'Take this as your sign not to go to the beach today.' Other posts show ladybirds crawling in their hundreds over prams, cars, umbrellas and even people's food. @benwalters746 Help 😂😂😂 we used to love playing with ladybirds when we was at school #foru #foryoupage❤️❤️ #holiday #amazing #ladybird #infestation #stothys #essex #seaside ♬ Jump Little Ladybird - Mini Vibes Professor Stuart Reynolds, an insect biologist from the University of Bath, told MailOnline: 'Ecology is complicated and this is a multi-factor problem, but it's for sure that the recent hot, dry weather has something to do with it. 'My suggestion is that favourable weather conditions over the last few months have led to a boom in aphid numbers on crop land and woodland. 'Ladybirds eat aphids, so this has led to a consequent boom in ladybirds.' Although the sightings might seem alarming, Professor Reynolds claims there is 'absolutely nothing to worry about.' Professor Reynolds says: 'It's happened before and will happen again. Boom and bust cycles are common in nature. 'Ladybirds may give you just a little nip sometimes - just to check whether you are edible or maybe because your skin is a bit salty - but they won't do any damage. 'It's not a plague! Ladybirds are lovely and we should celebrate them! Everyone loves a ladybird!' Over the last few weeks, Britain's weather has been exceptionally warm, with temperatures peaking at 34.7°C (94.5°F) last Friday. Do ladybirds bite? Ladybirds can and do bite humans when they are swarming. However, they do not have any venom, and their bites are perfectly harmless. At most, these bites will feel like a small pinch and produce very minor irritation. Bites are also rare and generally not due to aggression. Experts say that ladybirds will only 'nip' you to see if you are edible when they are hungry or if your skin tastes particularly salty. Like all insects, ladybirds and aphids speed up their life cycles during the warm weather, which means more insects are born. However, the recent heatwaves have been so hot and dry that both vegetation and aphids have started to die off. 'The last few weeks have been unfavourable to aphids, so that the poor ladybirds now have nothing to eat,' says Professor Reynolds. 'This leads them to fly off looking for grub elsewhere.' In addition to food, the ladybirds are also coming together to find mates, which leads to even larger local swarms. Although it might seem like it on social media, the insects probably aren't deliberately making their way to the beach. Professor Reynolds says that there are probably swarms 'all over the place', but they just happen to be more obvious in busy seaside towns like Weston-Super-Mare. Despite their alarming appearance, the experts say that we should welcome the swarms with open arms. Seeing so many ladybirds is a particularly good sign since they are a key predator as well as being a food source for larger animals like birds. Professor Tim Coulson, science author and biologist at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline: 'Predators, like ladybirds, are incredibly important components of ecosystems. Take away predators, and all hell breaks loose. 'We should cherish our ladybirds! Definitely do not kill the ladybirds as they keep the numbers of pest species down. Much better to have ladybirds than to spray crops with insecticides to kill the aphids.' Likewise, Professor Helen Roy, one of the world's leading ladybird experts from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, told MailOnline: 'Ladybirds are much-loved insects. So, I hope people can enjoy seeing so many ladybirds and celebrate these incredible insects.' Ladybirds aren't the only insects to have swarmed the UK amid the recent warm weather. Britain has also faced a surge of wasps, an expert has warned. Andrew Dellbridge of Ace Pest Control in Norfolk said the spring sunshine had lured wasps out of hibernation early, giving them more time to grow. And though they'll die off come winter, the head start means this year's nests are already surpassing last year's in size, with months still to go. Now wasps are experiencing a 'population explosion', Mr Dellbridge said, and Britain faces a wave of jumbo nests before winter. He said: 'What I would expect to do in September–October as far as size of nest and multiple wasps within a nest, we're getting now. 'By September–October, the right back end of the season before they all die off, we should be in massive nest territory.'
