Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Ladybird Swarm (1976?)

I remember being in the back of my dad's car with my brother. I was 9 I think, and they were flying in through the windows...And dad shouting close the "b****y" windows quick...hehe. That was on the way to Moreton, we turned rround and went to West Kirby instead. There wasn't that many there. I just saw loads of people running up from the beach with their towels screaming....Sounds funny now, but it was scary!!

Caused by a glut of greenfly aphids the previous year (the cheif food item for ladybirds, bless 'em), the ladybird breeding pattern changed due to that glut - such that next year - 76 - their were far more ladybirds as there was expected to be far more aphids - but in the event there wasn't..

I remember Derby Pool covered in them.

After a while they got pretty cranky with little or no food and were known to bite - which they do not do normally...