this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2025
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Ladybirds are among the cutest creepy crawlies: you find handbags in the shape of them, and some people think they bring you luck if you wish on one.

But even the loveliest things can get a bit much, and you might have noticed there being rather a lot of the cute red bugs around this year.

Either we’re all about to see something extremely fortune happen (Keir Starmer would be happy about this), or there’s something else going on.

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[–] galmuth@feddit.uk 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Tim Coulson, professor of zoology and head of biology at the University of Oxford, said hotter weather means there is more for ladybirds to eat, so they are thriving.
And we shouldn’t be annoyed about seeing more of them around than usual: ‘People should learn to love the ladybirds. They are effective predators of aphids, which can be a major pest of many plant species.

For those who dont want to get past the pay/cookiewall

[–] Coldcell@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Thanks man. Since when did the cookie dialogue become "Accept marketing tracker trash to monetize you or literally just pay us money, those are your options". I should be able to reject cookies?

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Glad they've finally shown up. I can finally stop brushing aphids off my plums.

"brushing aphids off my plums."

That's your fault for joining that nudist allotment :D

[–] nucleative@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Interesting, we call these things ladybugs in the US. I haven't seen one in a long time but I know they are good news for Rose gardens.

[–] fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk 1 points 2 hours ago

I'm often weirdly nationalistic about British words/spelling against American words/spelling, but you're dead right on this one.

It is definitely a "bug". Nothing about it resembles a bird.

I'm still going to call it a "Ladybird" out loud, but I'll be thinking "Not even slightly a bird" whilst I say it.

[–] i_am_not_a_robot@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago

🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞