So ladybirds are all red with black spots? Not so, say spotters who are scouring the North East for sightings of the creatures.
In just a few months, volunteers have shared more than 1,500 records as part of the North East Ladybird Spot project being run by the Natural History Society of Northumbria. They have recorded 26 species in a dazzling variety of colours and spot variations at what is the halfway stage of the project.
From familiar species such as the seven-spot ladybird and orange ladybird encountered in urban areas to regional rarities such as the cryptic water ladybird, the sightings are revealing a wealth of new information about the distribution and ecology of these colourful insects in the North East. The project has included a special survey of the North East’s cemeteries, which has revealed harlequin and orange ladybirds to be numerous in urban areas and also discovered other species including pine, larch, two-spot and ten-spot ladybirds.
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By noting details such as the aspect of gravestones and the species of tree present, volunteers are helping to answer what it is that makes cemeteries so appealing to ladybirds. The main project has produced sightings of the rare heather ladybird at Rothbury and Dipton Woods, marking the first Northumberland records since the 1980s and the cream-streaked ladybird, a fairly recent arrival to the UK, was spotted for the first time on Tyneside.
Elsewhere, new sites have been uncovered elusive species such as hieroglyphic and eleven-spot ladybirds, the eye-catching striped ladybird, the regionally scarce eighteen-spot ladybird and pine and larch ladybirds.
There has been an increase in sightings of smaller inconspicuous species including the meadow ladybird and pine scymnus. A new species for the North East, the conifer-loving epaulet ladybird has also been encountered for the first time at two sites close to Newcastle.
At the top of the ladybird leaderboard the harlequin and seven-spot ladybirds make up the most recorded species. More spotters have been encountering yellow ladybirds and records of 14-spot ladybirds with its striking square spots have been coming in thick and fast.
Locations such as allotments are good sites for ladybirds and to mark National Allotments Week from August 8-14, Beelines North East is looking to encourage more young people to take up gardening. Beelines North East, a project fronted by Urban Green Newcastle and Northumberland Wildlife Trust is helping to create nature-based solutions to help tackle climate change and increase pollinator and wildlife habitats in 33 parks across the city.
One aim this week is to change perceptions of bugs and other species as ‘pests’ by raising awareness of the benefits they bring to gardens and allotments. Throughout the week, there will be activities in parks across the city including; planting in Walker Park with the YMCA; a seed bomb making session in Denton Park and a ‘growing’ drop-in session at Jesmond Dene’s Pets Corner where families can paint their own pot and plant herbs to take home.
Ed Chivers, project manager for Beelines North East said: “Allotments play a big role in helping to balance and support our eco-systems and our pollinators as well as providing food, so we hope that our events and activities will help the people of Newcastle realise the part they can play in making sure that these creatures and habitats can continue to thrive.”
For more information visit https://urbangreennewcastle.org/our-work/beelines-north-east/
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