Latest news with #ladybirds
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
West of England headlines: 'Coach crash' and 'Syd Lawrence funeral'
Here's our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app. What have been the big stories in the West this week? Thames Water announced a hose pipe ban, following the recent scorching weather. Millions of people living in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire are being asked to limit their water usage from heat also brought large swarms of ladybirds to many parts of the country. A huge swarm of them were spotted on the seafront in Weston-super-Mare, covering cars and flying into people taking a trip to the coast. The bugs have since dispersed as temperatures stabilised later in the this week, some of the first aircraft began to arrive at RAF Fairford ahead of the Royal International Air Tattoo, which began on people living in Gloucestershire were left without water after a main burst on Wednesday. WWT Slimbridge and Slimbridge Primary School were forced to close because of the issue. The water supplier, Severn Trent, said it was a "complicated" fix.A major incident was declared in Somerset on Thursday after a coach carrying 60 to 70 school children back from a trip to Exmoor Zoo flipped and slipped down a bank. Police confirmed one child died in the crash on Cutcombe Hill. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the incident as "heartbreaking".And the funeral of former cricketer David "Syd" Lawrence MBE was held on Friday. The fast bowler, who played for Gloucestershire and England, died last month at the age of 61, just a year after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Top five local stories for the BBC in the West Something longer to read More than half of Britain's busiest airports have raised their drop-off parking fees. Bristol Airport is joint top of the list, charging motorists £7 to park for a matter of minutes near the terminals. Explore more with our daily roundups
Daily Mail
7 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.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
High temperatures bringing loads of ladybirds, say experts
Warmer temperatures are behind an increase in the number of ladybirds this year, says ladybird expert Professor Helen Hoy says "very high numbers" have been seen because the warm weather has increased the number of aphids, which ladybirds feed on.A group of ladybirds are known as a 'loveliness', and Tim Coulson, professor of zoology and head of biology at the University of Oxford, said we should "learn to love" these little bugs."They are effective predators of aphids, which can be a major pest of many plant species," he do you think? Have you spotted many ladybirds around this year? Let us know in the comments. Earlier in July, these little ladybirds caused a lot of disruption at a cricket match at Lord's Cricket match between India and England was paused while swarms of ladybirds and flying ants invaded the Professor Coulson said the arrival of extra numbers of ladybirds shouldn't be seen as a bad thing."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 expert Professor Roy, from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, says there are a number of ways you can help look after ladybirds."If people want to help insects and other wildlife in this weather they can leave shallow dishes with a little water for them," she said. "Also, we encourage people to leave the aphids in their garden on roses and other plants so there is plenty of food for ladybirds."
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Beachgoers are ‘hiding in cars' as ladybirds swarm beaches in biggest ever plague since 1976
BEACHGOERS have been left scrambling to their vehicles, after a swarm of ladybirds descended on the UK. A string of heatwaves have hit the nation so far this year, bringing scorching temperatures and droughts. 5 5 5 And the hot weather has also brought with it the biggest swarm of ladybirds since 1976. Social media clips show huge plagues of the red beetles invading the beaches of Western Super Mare, crawling over tourists and coating cars. Horrified sun-seekers raced to their motors, clambered inside and shut the doors, to avoid the stream. The bugs have all been seen flocking to a restaurant in the popular tourist destination, landing on tables, customers and dinner plates. Meanwhile, residents of the South East reported seeing "millions" of ladybirds, with researches explaining that they like to forage in coastal areas. 'There was loads flying about,' one resident said. 'One landed on my face and other ones were landing on my dogs.' This comes after England's third test match against India was stopped last week, due to a swarm of ladybirds attacking the cricketers. England 's vice-captain Ollie Pope said of the incident: I've never seen that, no." "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, said of the large swarms: "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. "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." Tim Coulson, a professor of zoology and head of biology at the University of Oxford, encouraged people to 'learn to love' ladybirds. Why are ladybirds swarming the UK? The UK is currently experiencing a significant surge in ladybird populations, primarily due to a combination of warm weather and an abundance of their main food source: aphids. Warm temperatures speed up the life cycles of insects, including both aphids and ladybirds, leading to faster reproduction and increased numbers. This creates a plentiful food supply for ladybirds, allowing their populations to swell. Ladybirds play a crucial role in the ecosystem as natural predators of aphids, which can be a major pest for plants. This isn't the first time the UK has seen such a remarkable ladybird boom; similar high numbers were recorded in the summer of 1976, one of the hottest and driest on record. This historical context highlights the strong link between sustained warm weather, high aphid populations, and the resulting increase in native ladybird numbers. He said: '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. 'Ladybirds eat aphids, and an abundance of aphids means 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. '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.' Dr Peter Brown, an associate professor in ecology and conservation at Anglia Ruskin University, revealed that the last year lady bird number were this high was in the summer of 1976, one of the hottest and driest on record. He said: '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.' According to the British Entomological and Natural History Society, over 23 billion ladybirds swarmed the southern and eastern coasts of England that summer. 5
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Ladybird numbers 'very high' due to warm weather, say experts
Ladybirds are being seen in "very high numbers" this year because of the warm weather, an expert has said.A swarm of the creatures disrupted cricket at Lord's in London on Thursday, distracting players and leading to a brief pause in England's contest against and ladybird expert Prof Helen Roy, from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, said it was because of high numbers of aphids, which they eat, as well as warm Coulson, professor of zoology and head of biology at the University of Oxford, said people should "learn to love" the bugs because of their key ecological role. Prof Coulson said: "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."Because ladybirds eat aphids, they also have an abundance of food."They are effective predators of aphids, which can be a major pest of many plant species," he said."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."Prof Roy said people could support insects in their garden by leaving shallow dishes with a small amount of water in."Also, we encourage people to leave the aphids in their garden on roses and other plants so there is plenty of food for ladybirds," she said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
