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Heatwave Fuels UK’s Largest Ladybird Swarm Since 1976

Massive beach and cricket ground invasions this week halted play, driving tourists to seek shelter in cars.

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Ladybirds stopped play in the Test between England and India at Lord’s last Thursday

Overview

  • Alternating warm and wet early summer weather accelerated aphid reproduction, creating abundant prey that fueled one of the UK’s largest ladybird booms since 1976.
  • On July 10, a swarm at Lord’s Cricket Ground stopped play during the England vs India Test; by July 13, vast numbers had blanketed beaches from Weston-super-Mare to the Essex and Suffolk coasts.
  • Citizen scientists are submitting sightings to the UK Ladybird Survey via iRecord, providing crucial data on the swarm’s scale and duration.
  • Ecologists highlight ladybirds’ vital role in controlling aphid populations and advise supplying shallow water dishes and preserving garden aphids to sustain the insects.
  • Data from this event will help researchers improve understanding of how heatwave-driven aphid booms influence ladybird populations and human–wildlife interactions.