People across the UK are reporting seeing swarms of ladybirds roaming the skies and some have started invading people’s homes.
Social media users have taken to X - formerly known as Twitter - to complain about the insects congregating on their doors, cars and inside their houses, and asking why there are so many of the creatures about.
It’s not unusual for ladybirds to start to appear more often at this time of year, as they begin their hunt for a warm place to hibernate as temperatures start to cool.
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This usually happens around September and October as the cooler weather sets in, signalling the time for hibernation ready for the winter.
As the insects start their search for spots to hibernate this can often result in an influx of ladybirds inside your home.
The sudden surge in sightings of ladybirds is likely due to the unseasonably warm start to October, meaning many of the insects are still out and about.
Normally, hibernation for the winter would have started sooner - usually around the end of the summer - when temperatures start to drop, but the UK’s recent warm spell, or ‘Indian summer’, has delayed the process of bunkering down in preparation for the cold.
People have taken to social media to complain about the sudden surge of the insects across the UK.
@CathedralBirds said: “The Ladybird invasion continues and we have resorted to the old wives tale of putting bay leaves around the doors and windows. Even we don't think that's going to work!”
@SanjeePerera1 shared pictures of a cluster of ladybirds in her house, writing: “My living room seems to suddenly be infested with ladybirds today. Birmingham/ @queensfdn friends, can you see them swarming the grounds.
“They're everywhere! This could be the beginning of a Stephen King novel.”
@anne_deak wrote: “Just got home and lots of ladybirds are swarming around my front door in their teens #ladybirds #Derbyshire anyone else??”
@npr1uk said: “Anyone else noticing #ladybirds taking over the world today?”
Sharing a picture of ladybirds clustered around a window, @TheOrnithologi2 wrote: “Bonkers! Clouds of #ladybirds swarming the house and skies North Notts/South Yorks Border SK68 this afternoon l!”
@DorsetFox complained: “I’ve twice had #ladybirds land on me today. In October. Someone show them a calendar!!”
@heather_ymas1 added: “My flats being taken over by #ladybirds.”
If you are among the many people that have spotted the creatures around your house, it is likely to be the Harlequin species which has become increasingly common in the UK and it can be more invasive than others.
Harlequin ladybirds can vary in colour and markings, but the Royal Horticultural Society says the two most common forms are black with two red spots, or orange with 18 black spots.
They also usually hibernate in groups which is why you’re likely to see more than one of them inside your home.
The creatures are completely harmless to humans and can just be left alone, as they will tend to lie in a dormant state during the winter before flying away in spring. Keeping them around can also be beneficial as they will eat pests like greenfly.
But if you do want to deter them from coming inside, try placing cloves, peppermint, lemongrass or bay leaves around your home as they don’t like the smell, and seal any cracks around windows and doors where they might be able to sneak in.
