Overview

• Residents across the UK report clusters on windows and walls with some households encountering hundreds indoors today.
• Warm, bright spells in early October have activated the annual movement, with some species entering buildings while seven-spots shelter under leaf litter.
• Harlequin ladybirds, first recorded in 2004, are now widespread, highly predatory and linked to declines in some native species, and they are harmless to humans despite sometimes carrying parasites or a visible fungal infection.
• Ecology bodies advise against killing the insects and recommend gently boxing and relocating them to an outbuilding or leaving them undisturbed.
• Garden Organic reports high counts at its Ryton site and urges habitat-friendly steps such as leaving leaf litter and log piles and avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides to support overwintering.