Letter: Uncertain Future for British Ladybirds

By Dr John Muggleton

Sir: I have worked on ladybirds for some 35 years and I would like to be able to reassure your readers that our native species have nothing to fear from the arrival of the harlequin ladybird. However, I cannot speak with the certainty of Dr Majerus (‘British ladybirds face rapid extinction’, 27 December), as I have to be realistic.

Neither Dr Majerus nor I has any way of knowing the future effect of the arrival of this ladybird in the UK. In view of what has happened elsewhere all we can say is that the species may indeed spread as Dr Majerus suggests, but it may equally well fizzle out, or reach some equilibrium with its prey and our native ladybirds. Unlike many introduced species, its natural enemies are already here and so my money is on the latter outcome.

To suggest that two of our commonest ladybirds should be added the UK Biodiversity Action Plan’s list of priority species is frankly ludicrous and will have the effect of devaluing what is a valuable tool for conservationists. The probability that the population of either species could be reduced to the level where they qualify as endangered must be minuscule.

DR JOHN MUGGLETON

SALISBURY