Ladybirds

Fortunately at All Saints they do  mainly keep to the upper levels and out of our way, so most people don’t see them. I took this picture in January, of a clusters of Ladybirds that were taking advantage of tiny crevices that are formed between two cables that run up the stairs. Buildings with thick stone walls warm up and cool down very slowly so they protect against extreme swings of temperature. That makes them attractive places for some creatures to hibernate. We notice such things in the tower because the spaces, especially the staircase, are small so we are closer to, and more aware of the walls. Twenty or thirty hears are our most regular visitors were butterflies (there’s a picture of one in the bell chamber on the tower website) with the occasional invasion of thunder flies around the stair windows but that’s changed in recent years with the arrival of the Harlequin Ladybird, both here and in other towers.

We have many native Ladybirds but the Harlequin is an Asian invader. It’s bigger and more voracious than our native species, which might be good for gardeners (it likes aphids) but not so good for other ladybirds – not only does it compete with them for food but it also eats their larvae.

Harlequins have several different patterns, mimicking several native species, which makes it harder to identify them but you can download an identification guide with pictures of different species.

I first became aware of the Harlequin about ten years ago when I regularly supported the Arborfield band’s practices. Not content with lurking in the upper reaches of the tower, there were lots of them in the ringing room, and they flew around while we were ringing, which can be disconcerting when one lands on someone’s head.

John Harrison (xxx 2025)