Kentish Express Ashford & District
Girl distressed at insect invasion of her bedroom
Fungus-carrying foreign visitors are beginning to bug us
Since stories of the ladybird invasion hit national headlines, Ashford gardens have been inundated with the interloping insects.
They are said to be Harlequin ladybirds – a foreign variety flying in from Asia and North America on mild autumn winds.
The bugs, which can vary in patterns, and often have black wings rather than our common red, are believed to pose a serious threat to our native ladybirds because they carry a condition called Laboulbeniales disease, which is a form of fungus.
One Kennington mother found dozens of them crawling into her daughter’s bedroom window.
Claire Masters said: “They’re getting ready to hibernate in the window frames, apparently that’s what they seek out.
“But my daughter was very distressed about them.”
Elsewhere in Kent, householders took to social media to report the sudden appearance of the red and black bugs in their gardens.
Speaking on the Canterbury Residents’ Facebook forum, Kristabel Brooks said: “My house is covered in lady bugs!
“Is it some sort of mating season? There’s big black ones with two red spots which are very pretty.”
Violet Gibbs said: “We are plagued with them in Herne right now! Keep flying into my face.”
KentOnline was inundated with photos of the bugs from gardens around the county.
Michelle Vesey-Wells said she had visited Walmer Castle and they were everywhere, with some flying into her party.
Someone calling herself Joanna Missis Shed said: “We have loads everywhere inside and most are black with two red dots.”
But Sandra Prosser warned if they are inside they could congregate in a corner and go to sleep until spring, which she dubbed “harmless but stressful.”
Have you seen the foreign ladybirds? Send us your images to kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk