It would give me far greater pleasure to announce that Harlequin ducks had taken up residence at The Lodge - even if they were escaped ones. Unfortunately, the Harlequins I saw yesterday lunchtime were ladybirds.They're on the move across the UK, from south-east England. Now they've invaded The Lodge gardens. You can see from the map on the left, and here, how fast they're moving - they only arrived in 2004.
Why are they bad news? Because they outcompete our native species, and eat insects, caterpillars, pollen, nectar and sometimes other ladybirds!
Visit the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website
photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
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