Get Rid of a Harlequin Ladybird Infestation | Harlequin Ladybird Removal Specialists
Prices from £90/£100 +VAT
To get rid of a Harlequin ladybird infestation from your home or business premises call 0800 026 0308
Harlequin ladybirds are Asian in origin. Introduced into the UK in 2004, they have now spread all over the country. They differ from native British ladybirds by size, colour and pattern. Much larger, they are 8mm long and vary in colour (yellow, orange, red or black) with a variety of spot configurations. They are distinguished by a white spot on their heads which other ladybirds don’t have.
Why are Harlequin ladybirds a nuisance?
Harlequin ladybirds become a problem when they collect in huge numbers inside buildings as they prepare to hibernate in the autumn.- Once a hibernation site is chosen, the descendants use the same site year after year because of genetic memory.
- Harlequin ladybirds go into hibernation gradually over several days. They often sun themselves on walls before going inside at night or if there’s a drop in the temperature. The same applies in reverse when they emerge from hibernation in the spring.
- If provoked, they emit a yellow chemical secretion which can stain walls, furniture and window frames. which has an unpleasant smell.
- They do bite but their bites are harmless, at most causing a slight irritation or being painful.
- They often get lost in the structure of a building and emerge in rooms where it’s too warm for them so they die. Dead ladybirds are often found around windows as they try to find a way out.
How is an infestation of ladybirds treated?
To get rid of a Harlequin ladybird infestation a residual insecticide is applied to the areas where the ladybirds have been seen. This includes around windows (inside & out), walls, ceilings and lofts. Loft spaces and similar cavities may be treated with an insecticide fog.
When ladybirds come into contact with the treated surfaces they will absorb the insecticide and die. This may take some time depending on the temperature and how much insecticide they have absorbed. Dying ladybirds may be seen for up to four weeks after treatment.
The treatment will not eliminate the ladybird infestation but will kill the vast majority of ladybirds present at the time of treatment. This is because ladybirds may already be hibernating in areas difficult to access such as cracks within cavity walls or between the felt and roof tiles.
What do I do after treatment?
- Keep people and pets away from treated surfaces until dry (if bare skin comes into contact with the insecticide whilst wet then wash it thoroughly).
- Do not wash down the surfaces that have been treated for two months as the insecticide will remain active for that time.
PEST UK’s Guarantee
This treatment will not eliminate a Harlequin ladybird infestation but it will kill the vast majority present at the time of treatment.
How much does it cost to get rid of Harlequin ladybirds?
Insecticide x1 spray from £90/£100 +VAT
What products do we use?
Listed below are some of the insecticides we may use. Click to access its data sheet
All insecticides are biodegradable, almost odourless, non-tainting and do not corrode or stain, as well as being completely harmless to mammals.
An electric fly killers (EFK) can significantly reduce, but not solve, the problem.
Buy an electric fly killer (EFK) from our online shop
Fly-Shield 1
Designed for areas up to 90 sqm
Attracts and traps flying insects on a UV stabilised glue board.
1 x 18w shatter resistant lamps
W 34.5 x H 25.5 x D 12 cm
£104.80 including VAT and delivery
For other sizes and types of EFK go to our online shop
About Harlequin ladybirds
There are more than 40 species of ladybirds in the UK. They are useful insects due to their voracious consumption of destructive pests such as aphids. A single adult ladybird can eat as many as 50 aphids in one day.
Harlequin ladybirds were released in North America in 1916 as a biological control agent against aphids. However, they reproduce quickly and their numbers have increased exponentially. They have invaded most of North America and Europe and are spreading to South America and South Africa, becoming the most invasive ladybird on earth.
Harlequin ladybirds were first found in the UK in 2004. They pose a threat to native British ladybirds as they compete with them for aphids as well as eating their eggs and larvae. They also are a threat to hundreds of other native British insects as they eat their larvae and eat pollen, nectar, fruit juices and honeydew.
Pest UK are a member of the BPCA (British Pest Control Association)
