Beetle Gone South

Somehow, with all the press coverage of the arrival of the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) in the UK, the news that the same species had arrived in South Africa around the same time came in way under the radar. This excellent article (pdf) in the South Africa Journal of Science indicates that it has been present there since at least 2004. Menawhile, the Cape Times is reporting that the beetle was discovered last week in Cape Town, and appears to be spreading quite rapidly through the country. Researchers are tracking this spread, and anyone seeing a suspected Asian lady beetle in South Africa [now don't be bugging them with reports from the US!] is encouraged to photograph it and contact Riaan Stals by phone (012 304 9560) or e-mail (stalsr AT arc.agric.za).

Update 04/29/08: The Asian lady beetle has now made its first appearance in Australia, though the specimens that were discovered were, thankfully, dead.

All Hail Our New Beetle Overl....oh pffft! We've got too many overlords already...

The Telegraph is reporting that the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis, you might call them "ladybugs") is now the major lady beetle species in the UK. Impressively, the beetle has managed to do this in just a few short years, with the first record of one in Britain back in 2004. The news of the Asian lady beetle's domination comes from the UK Harlequin Ladybird Survey, a program whose leaders go so far as to call their subject "the most invasive ladybird on Earth." Kudos to the Telegraph for including a UK distribution map and an excellent, if gruesome, action shot of two Asian lady beetle larvae munching on a poor 7-spot lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), a native UK species.

Disharmonia

A report from the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) indicates that Asian ladybugs (Harmonia axyridis) should now be considered a potential allergen in America. The beetles, originally introduced as a biological control for garden aphids, congregate in massive numbers in the fall to seek shelter. They often target homes and other buildings as ideal spots to pass the time until spring. Now tests show that the beetles are causing allergic reactions in humans that are comparable to those caused by cockroaches. More interesting is that there is cross-reactivity between the ladybug and cockroach allergens. That means someone who develops a reaction to ladybugs is at risk of developing a reaction to cockroaches allergens, and vice versa.

Would you like to take a survey?

It has been about a year and a half since the ISW first reported on the multicolor Asian ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) invasion in the UK. Now BBC News is reporting that a group of scientists is putting together a nationwide survey, and they're asking all Brits to help out. Two websites have been set up to collect data, starting this April: harlequin-survey.org for the Asian lady beetles, and ladybird-survey.org for all other lady beetle species.

Suck it up

ABC News has this report about the invasion of Asian ladybugs (Harmonia axyridis) in Texas. A gardener interviewed for the story notes that so many of the insects have entered his house, he uses a vacuum to clean them up. Apparently they're also annoying to golfers, who have lady beetles landing all over them as they traverse the course - Don't they know it's good luck? (For Amanda :-) )

Disharmonia

Expat.telegraph is reporting that there is a new invasive insect in the UK, one "with the potential to wipe out half of Britain's native species." And this species is...a ladybug? Yes, the Asian lady beetle, also known as the Harlequin ladybird beetle (Harmonia axyridis), was discovered a couple of weeks ago in a garden in Britain. The article is referring to the loss of native ladybug species, by the way, not the whole of the UK's flora and fauna. Scientists hypothesized that the beetle was blown across the English Channel by the wind. Read more about Asian ladybugs from previous ISW posts.

That Bites.

I already knew that around this time of year in the temperate U.S., Asian ladybugs (Harmonia axyridis can be quite a nuisance, as they seek warmth and shelter inside people's homes. But until this article from The Detroit News, I never knew that they could bite. Apparently they can and do bite humans, something to keep in mind the next time you marvel at one that has landed on you. Asian ladybugs (ladybird beetles) were introduced to the U.S. because they prey on tree-dwelling aphids, something few native ladybugs have a taste for.

Ladybugged

Since I found the Canadian ladybug site, I've been trying to find a ladybug in the field that wasn't the introduced Southern beetle (Harmonia axyridis). I was happy when I saw a different species today at Wollaston Beach Reservation (see image below), but a check at the identification site indicated that it was the Seven-spotted lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata), another species imported for insect control.

Ladybug I.D.

Today I found this great website created by the Canadian Nature Federation as a part of their 1995 survey of Ladybugs (also known as Lady Beetles or Ladybird Beetles). They have pictures and descriptions of 16 different species that exist in North America. Using their guide, I was able to determine that these photos (from a previous blog entry) are most likely of the same species, the Southern beetle (Harmonia axyridis). Also known as the Asian Lady beetle, this species has been repeatedly introduced to North America since the early 1900's.

Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home

It seems like there are a lot more Ladybugs (Ladybird Beetles) around this spring than ever before. I hadn't looked into the matter before, and was surprised to learn that several different species of Ladybugs have been introduced to North America from other parts of the world. The reason for their continued introduction is that these species are voracious eaters of other insects, especially aphids. They are often recommended to gardeners as a "natural" way of dealing with aphid infestations.

Unfortunately (and as always), these introductions are having some unintended consequences. For example, the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) does not die at the end of the growing season, as most native species do. Instead, they hibernate, and they love finding warm cozy places in which to do this...like in your house! If you are having serious problems with ladybugs, you might want to consider some control methods, but so far they are just considered a nuisance species, and no negative ecological effect has been associated with their introduction.