Ladybirds

Brightly coloured and patterned, ladybirds are among some of our most beloved and familiar invertebrates.

Firmly established as the gardeners' friend, they are perhaps the only group of insects to be viewed entirely positively by the general public. 'Ladybirds' focuses on the 26 species resident in the UK, from the common, but unusual Orange Ladybird, to the rarer - and aptly named - Scarce 7-spot Ladybird.

Richard Comont considers the conservation challenges facing these iconic species, whose populations are now at risk thanks to the threat posed by one of their own, the invasive alien Harlequin Ladybird.