How to spot ladybirds in winter

Most insects aren’t around in winter, but looking for ladybirds can be very rewarding. Different species choose different hiding places to spend the colder months. It’s a lot of fun trying to find them!

Beetles on a break

Most ladybirds feed on aphids, which are typically not around in the winter. To save energy, they spend those few months in a sort of deep sleep. Many ladybirds huddle together in groups. They use pheromones (chemical signals) to let other ladybirds know that they’ve found a suitable site. You can sometimes find several different species all together! On warmer days, you might even spot some wandering around, enjoying the sunshine.

A grave sight

Churchyards are great places to look for ladybirds. There are lots of nooks and crannies on gravestones in which they can hide. There are also usually trees, providing plenty of shelter. Look around the gravestones, especially where there are carvings, to see if you can spot any ladybirds tucked up against them. Gravestones under trees often have more ladybirds than those that are exposed to the elements. Railings are also great places to inspect! Remember to respect the gravestones and churchyard.

A huddle of 7-spot ladybirds clinging to a stone dove, on top of a gravestone, with more graves in the background

Raiders of the lost bark

Trees also offer many places to hide away from the weather. You can find ladybirds in crevices in the bark, or sometimes under loose areas of bark. The ladybirds that particularly like pines and other conifers, such as the cream-streaked ladybird, can often be found in huddles under loose bark. Make sure you don’t pull any bark off the tree whilst you search, and take care to cover any exposed ladybirds up again carefully. It can also be worthwhile checking the leaf litter at the base of trees.

Ivy I-spy

Ivy is evergreen and often very dense, making it a great place to overwinter! Quite a few different species can be found in ivy, such as the 7-spot, 22-spot and harlequin ladybirds. There’s also a ‘micro ladybird’ called Nephus quadrimaculatus (or ivy ladybird) that is only about 2 mm long. It lives in ivy all year round, so keep your eyes open – though you might need a hand lens or magnifying glass! It’s also worth exploring other evergreen shrubs and trees, such as conifers and holly.

An ivy ladybird, tiny and lack with four red dashes on its back, clings to the tip of a leaf

House guests

Some ladybirds, such as the 2-spot and harlequin, are quick to take advantage of the buildings we have built to shelter ourselves. Older houses in particular are prone to attracting overwintering visitors. They tend to return to the same place each year, using pheromones left behind by previous generations. Outbuildings and sheds are ideal, as these are usually unheated, so ladybirds won’t be woken by the radiators coming on.

Share like a scientist

It is important to know how ladybirds are doing and also how they’re behaving, so any sighting is worth recording. With this information we can see how the numbers of ladybirds change over the years. When you find ladybirds, record the species, date, location (a grid reference is ideal), habitat information, and take a photo. The best way to share your sightings is through the iRecord app or website. You could also find your local Vice County ladybird recorder online and email them sightings.