Ladybirds

I don't get many ladybirds. I think I've seen three or four 7-spots and one 15-spot this year.



But back in July I was in for a surprise. I found 10 of these ugly looking things on the silver birch.

The are larvae of the Harlequin Ladybird, the much hated foreign invader. I was lucky enough to see this one shedding its skin as the pupa emerged.

A pupa that has darkened.

This one has not long emerged from its pupal stage.

They don't look like ours do they?

I moved one to the nasturtiums that were being destroyed by blackfly. Unfortunately they were too few too late.