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Why are there so many ladybirds? What could be behind the UK ladybird ‘infestation’ and what to do about it

If you have noticed dozens of ladybirds flocking to your home this week, don’t worry, you are not alone.

People across the UK are reporting swarms of the insects congregating on their front doors, cars, balconies and inside their houses, and have turned to social media for answers.

There is actually a very good reason why so many ladybirds are suddenly appearing – here is what you need to know.

Why are there so many ladybirds?

The sudden surge appears to be down to a change in the weather, with the ladybirds looking for somewhere warm and safe to spend the winter.

Ecologist Dean Wilson from Horticulture.co.uk explained to the Telegraph & Argus: “We had a sudden turn in the weather conditions last week – a cold snap which signalled hibernation season.

“Then the warm weather this week has presented an opportunity for the insects to (all at once) find a safe home for winter in ideal conditions.”

However, he added that these swarms will not last for long: “It’s likely surprising to see so many ladybirds at once, but they’re not here to take over and it’s likely that they’ll be gone as quickly as they arrived.

“I wouldn’t expect the ‘swarms’ to stay for longer than one week at the most.”

What should I do about them?

Ladybirds are completely harmless, so there is nothing wrong with just leaving them be.

Mr Wilson says: “We have very little to fear from ladybirds. They are completely harmless – they’ll likely overwinter in a dormant state in or around your home during winter – then fly away in spring to find food and mate.

“I would encourage the general public to enjoy the spectacle and be thankful for the range of benefits ladybirds bring to the garden.”

These benefits include eating pests like greenfly, which can damage plants and crops.

Reference: Alex Finnis

Elusive 'Lord God' woodpecker declared extinct

A woodpecker so beautiful it was given the name “Lord God Bird” was officially declared extinct by the US wildlife service on Wednesday, as scientists warned climate change was accelerating the loss of many rare birds.

The ivory-billed woodpecker was one of nearly two dozen species of animals and plants on the US Fish and Wildlife Services' new extinction list, the latest casualties of the warming of the planet and habitat destruction.

It reportedly earned its nickname because it was so big and so beautiful that those blessed to spot it blurted out the Lord’s name. Singer Sufjan Stevens even wrote a song about the bird.

“This is not an easy thing,” said Amy Trahan, the Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who reviewed the evidence and wrote the report concluding that the ivory bill “no longer exists.”

“Nobody wants to be a part of that,” a tearful Ms Trahan told the Washington Post. “Just having to write those words was quite difficult. It took me a while.”

The bird is native to the hardwood forests of the Southern US and Cuba. It was once the third-largest woodpecker in the world, but its population declined over the last century due to heavy logging and poaching.

Former US president Franklin Roosevelt spotted three in 1907 during a bear hunt in Louisiana’s swamplands.

© AP An ivory-billed woodpecker specimen is on a display at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, - AP

The last universally accepted sighting of an American ivory-billed woodpecker was in the state in 1944, and the last universally accepted sighting of a Cuban ivory-billed woodpecker was in 1987. Sporadic reports of sightings and other evidence of the birds' persistence have continued since then.

Various habitat restoration efforts were initiated in areas where the sightings were recorded, to protect any surviving individuals. However, the efforts ultimately failed.

"The Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of 99 per cent of the plants and animals under its care, but sadly these species were extinct or nearly gone when they were listed," said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement.

"The tragedy will be magnified if we don’t keep this from happening again by fully funding species protection and recovery efforts that move quickly. Delay equals death for vulnerable wildlife."

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has been exceedingly slow to protect species, the centre stated.

It is a rare move for wildlife officials to give up hope on a plant or animal, but government scientists say they have exhausted efforts to find these 23, the Associated Press reported.

And they warn climate change, on top of other pressures, could make such disappearances more common as a warming planet adds to the dangers facing imperiled plants and wildlife.

Only 11 species previously have been removed due to extinction in the almost half-century since the Endangered Species Act was signed into law.

A million plants and animals are in danger of disappearing, many within decades.

"We’re at risk of losing hundreds more species because of a lack of urgency," Ms Curry said. "The Endangered Species Act is the most powerful tool we have to end extinction, but the sad reality is that listing still comes too late for most species. 

Reference: Telegraph: Josie Ensor

Bats frozen in 2010 had similar disease to Covid

The winged creatures from the Stung Treng province, in nothern Cambodia, were stored in freezers in 2010.

Tests performed last year on two samples from the bats uncovered a virus with similarities to coronavirus which sparked a worldwide pandemic.

© AFP via Getty Images GettyImages-1234868761.jpg

The discovery of the similar virus has led to fresh hope a new study on the bats could lead to a better understanding of Covid, according to Sky News.

Researchers have been examining the species, sex, age and details of the bats as well as collecting oral and rectal swabs.

Dr Veasna Duong, head of virology at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, claimed the destruction of natural habitats could have brought on the pandemic.

The research team have made four trips in two years to try and understand the origin of the disease among bats. 

Noel Fitzpatrick pays tribute to his dog Keira, who passed away

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick broke down in tears on Saturday as he paid tribute to his beloved dog of nearly 14 years, Keira, who passed away last week.

The Irish TV vet, 53, was understandably emotional as he reflected on Keira's life and thanked fans for their 'kind thoughts' in a heartfelt video shared on Twitter.

Dressed in his veterinary uniform and patting his cat Ricochet on his lap, Noel - who previously treated Meghan Markle's dog and Russell Brand's cat - said Keira gave him 'hope' and made him 'the best' he could be. 

'Thank you so much everybody for all of your good wishes and your kind thoughts and your compassion in the last few days since we lost her,' Noel began in the video. 

Holding up a photo of Keira prior to her passing, Noel went on to reveal just how much the terrier meant to himself and his family. 

'We loved her. She was our sister, our daughter, our family member. She's been by my side for 14 years. Through all the ups and downs, ins and outs; she sat on my knee when I was writing lectures or doing reports.

'Whether I was happy or sad. She liked it when I was sad because she would lick my tears. She liked the salt. But most importantly, she was the best friend I could ever want.'   

Breaking down in tears, Noel revealed how Keira made him the best version of himself.

'She gave me hope, she made me the best I could be. She saved me from all of the ups and downs. She knew everything about me and she kept it all to herself,' he managed to say with a laugh. 

Noel explained how he chose to give her 'an extra year of life' after she 'nearly died a year ago' from a 'bad accident' and thanked his colleagues for saving her life. 

She shared the most valuable gift in the entire world with me, unconditional love. That's it. That's all there is, but she also taught me that with great love comes great pain. And that's okay, I wouldn't have had it any other way. No other way,' he said.  

Wiping away tears, Noel described Keira as an 'eternal inspiration' and said her legacy 'lives on in me and all my colleagues'.

Noel concluded by revealing how a tombstone had been arranged for Keira on Friday, and said a few parting words.  

'Your light remains inside me. You're always by my side. Keira, I love you and everybody thank you so much. She remains with us. Her light remains with every single one of us that believes in unconditional love,' he said. 

Noel announced Keira's death in a heartfelt Instagram post on September 10, sharing a sweet photo of the terrier alongside an emotional passage of text.  

'My heart is truly broken. She was my best friend in the whole wide world. My friend Amy and her son Kyle are broken-hearted too since they have shared her guardianship with me all this time,' he wrote. 

'We were so very blessed and lucky to have had her in our lives, lighting the way with her magnificent unconditional love.

'We were especially lucky to have been gifted magical further time with her when she nearly lost her life too soon a year ago.

'I am so thankful for your kind wishes and support at this difficult time and for the incredible love you have shown us.

'I know that she touched many lives with her light. With great love comes great pain, but her love will be inside me forever,' he went on to say.   

Reference: Kristy Johnson For Mailonline