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Ladybird plague hits the UK

Millions of Harlequin ladybirds have been spotted in Plymouth with a warning they could soon spread across the rest of the country.

Rory Dimond, from the charity Buglife told 5 live how the Asian Harlequin ladybird is effecting the UK鈥檚 own ladybird population, he said: 鈥淭hey eat the eggs and young of our native species of ladybird and the evidence is they are causing decline in smaller ladybird species.鈥

Originally brought over from Asia to feed on aphids and other pests, they are now in the UK looking for a home for the winter:

鈥淭his time of year they are looking for somewhere nice and warm and cosy to hibernate, they realise houses are warmer and seek out cracks and gaps.

鈥淭hey have a habit of gathering together, you can get hundreds or thousands of ladybirds in one spot.鈥

This clip is originally from Phil Williams on Wednesday 26 October

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