Swarms of ladybirds are flooding into homes across the UK, with some residents reporting hundreds of the insects scaling walls, windows and doors. Specialists are urging households to close windows and doors to keep them out, as these non-native ladybirds can carry sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Harlequin ladybirds are mainly found in the south-east of England, although the species has been spreading northwards into the Midlands. They carry STDs, but Max Barclay, Senior Curator of Beetles at the Natural History Museum, confirmed these cannot be passed on to humans.
Why Ladybirds Enter Homes
Barclay explained that several ladybird species hibernate in large clusters. Ancestrally, harlequin ladybirds would have hibernated in caves, hollow trees and other sheltered places. In the absence of such sites, they may try to enter homes, often through small gaps along the edges of loose-fitting windows.
The STD is a fungus that forms little scales on the wing cases of the ladybird. Barclay noted it is visible to the naked eye, appearing as a yellow crust on parts of the exoskeleton, allowing people to tell whether a ladybird is infected.
Reassurance and Prevention
Barclay said these insects are not anything to panic about, as they cannot give people diseases, cannot hurt them, and will not completely exterminate native fauna. He added they will find some kind of balance, even if that includes them in reasonably large numbers.
To prevent the insects from gaining access, the Natural History Museum advises ensuring doors and windows are properly sealed and insulated. Residents have shared their experiences online, with one user on r/BritishProblems saying they have to shut every window, vent and door to avoid being bombarded by ladybirds, though the insects are still getting in.
Public Reports Across the UK
Other users reported seeing new ladybirds in their kitchens in south Staffordshire, swarms over the weekend in West Yorkshire, and homes covered in the insects in Greater Manchester, with one person saying they had never seen anything like it.
