The Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is one of the most invasive species in the world. It took the Grey squirrel 100 years to spread throughout the UK – it has taken the Harlequin ladybird less than 5 years to do the same.

The Harlequin was introduced from Asia to North America in the 1980s to control aphids that were feeding on crops, however the ladybird quickly spread across the United States to become the most common ladybird there.

For further information see - www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/bugofthemonth/harlequinladybird

Photographed by David Nicholls - www.naturespot.org.uk