Ladybirds

[Keith_Beef]

Not sure if this is the right spot for discussing introduced species, but there is an article on the BBC news website about a foreign ladybird being captured outside an Essex pub.

No jokes.

And these are being sold on mainland Europe for pest control!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3715120.stm


Keith.

 

[Squidders]

Ladybirds are one of the most vile tasting creatures on the planet...

 

[jamesdevine]

I am tring hard not to Ask but? :yikes:

 

[Squidders]

I managed to catch one with my mouth whilst riding a pushbike down a big hill... Although I did eat the ladybird, I still consider it only a draw and not a victory... utterly foul!

 

[tomtom]

i think the bright colour and destinctive(sp) marking mean "DONT EAT ME" what do you reckon Squidders? :rolmao:

 

[Tantalus]

And these are being sold on mainland Europe for pest control!

Makes me wonder how they are being marketed

Call me a cynic if you will but I can almost imagine the advertising

"Environmentally Friendly Pest Control"

Isn't that the kind of excuse used to introduce myxamatosis?

Tant

 

[Squidders]

tomtom yes - coincidence or not but McDonalds use the same colours give or take... good ol' warning colours.

tantalus never underestimate the ignorance of some people, it's got legs, how bad can it be? aparently, the year I was born (1976) there were huge swarms of ladybirds biting people up and down the country due to ideal weather.

 

[Gary]

Either way these new asain ones where a sign saying I'll eat you - appearantly they bite!

 

[Tantalus]

yeah i remember dire stories about ladybug plagues as a kid

as far as i remember they followed closely on the heels of aphid plagues (surprise surprise)

ladybugs bleed formic acid at the knees when they are distressed (we were told at the time) which is what makes it feel like a bite

formic acid is the stuff in ant and nettle stings

Tant

 

[Tantalus]

not to go off topic but this bbc link also from today seems particularly relevant



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3667300.stm

Tant