Overview

• Residents across the UK report dense clusters on windows and door frames, with social media and regional outlets sharing footage of homes described as crawling with insects.
• The non-native harlequin ladybird, established in Britain since 2004 and spreading beyond the south-east, is the species most often found indoors.
• Warmer-than-usual conditions following a hot spring and summer are cited by pest experts as boosting numbers and flight activity this October.
• Pest specialists advise sealing gaps, using citrus peels, cloves or bay leaves as scent deterrents on sills, and gently vacuuming clusters with a soft-brush head for release outdoors.
• Natural history experts clarify that a visible fungal infection some ladybirds carry does not infect humans, and homeowners are warned not to squash them because they can exude yellow staining fluid.