Ladybird numbers 'very high' due to warm weather, say experts
Prof Coulson said: "Warm weather means more aphids because they can complete each generation faster - insects, including ladybirds and aphids, tend to speed up their lives in warm weather."Because ladybirds eat aphids, they also have an abundance of food."They are effective predators of aphids, which can be a major pest of many plant species," he said."Much in the way that wolves keep deer numbers in check in some parts of the world, ladybirds keep aphid numbers down."A swarm of ladybirds in a cricket game, even against India, should remind people of the role that predators play in keeping the ecology of earth in a healthy state."Prof Roy said people could support insects in their garden by leaving shallow dishes with a small amount of water in."Also, we encourage people to leave the aphids in their garden on roses and other plants so there is plenty of food for ladybirds," she said.
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