Where have all the ladybirds gone?

Question

Has anyone else noticed that we don't have hardly any ladybirds in the UK anymore?! I used to collect them when I was a kid, then set them free at the end of the day...typical kids stuff that I'm sure plenty of people did during the summer holidays!

But I don't see many anymore at all. Does anyone know if the climate has affected the ladybird population or something, or is there another reason why we just don't see many anymore?

Answer 1

the use of insecticides has played a big part in killing off the ladybird population. Farmers spraying on fields and people killing greenfly on their roses etc. Ladybirds eat greenfly so taking away their food supply kills them off too!

Answer 2

I'd noticed that but thought it was because I'd moved to the North of Scotland ... we don't seem to have garden snails round here either are there less of them now too or is that a geographical thing?

Answer 3

yesterday afternoon we had loads in the back garden as soon as the sun came out,last year we had a plague of them until july when the weather turned and they finnished,they will only be starting out now anyway so keep looking,its early  and cold yet