Page 83 - BBC Wildlife - August 2017 UK

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Wild UK

FORMOREBRITISH
WILDLIFEACTION
CATCHUP ON iPLAYER

Captivatedasshe ften I think back to the summer ladybirds, and I have had the great privilege
of studying their fascinating life-cycle.
of 1976. It was exceptionally hot
isbyladybirds, and,aged six, I haddiscovered On sunny days in early spring I love to watch
that my back garden was home to adult 7-spot ladybirds basking after emerging
Helen Royhasy many wild treasures. From theslow from their overwintering habitats. They will
worms in the compost heap (and have spent the colder months in sheltered
spentyearsOa rat that I also found living there, spots andhave had a tough time. It’s not just
unravellingthe much to the horror of my mother) to cabbage low temperatures that they must contend with,
but also the threat of attack from parasites
white butterflies, I was captivated by them all. But
complexand the 7-spot ladybirds provided the greatest delight. and predators, coupled with diminishing food
supplies. So it is always wonderful to see the
One of my earliest memories is sitting in our
secretlifeofthe vegetable patch among neat lines of slightly first 7-spot of the year.
withering lettuces, watching ladybirds. It was I invariably feel a sense of wonder that any
7-spot variety. the sheer numbers that excited me. And it was ladybirds at all have managed to survive such
possible to see various stages of colour pattern hostile conditions, yet somehow they do. For
development. Some of the new adults were the first few weeks of spring the 7-spots will
translucent yellow, while those that had emerged return to their overwintering location at the
from their pupae a few days earlier were bright end of each day, but gradually they awaken fully
red with their characteristic seven black spots. from their winter modus operandi and begin
Fortyyears later, I am still captivated by7-spot their search for food and mates.