Ladybirds have been found in people’s houses this week (Image: Getty)
Ladybirds have been spotted in households up and down the UK this week, with the loveable little insects suddenly being found on windowsills and in rooms just days after the big chill ended.
Slightly warmer weather conditions this week appear to have stunned ladybirds out of hibernation, with people reporting seeing ladybirds in their this week in various parts of the UK.
And it turns out, if it happens to you, you should probably intervene because the little bugs aren’t but could end up dying.
Taking to , u/Posh-u said: “Look, I know it’s warmed up versus the last few days, but a ladybird coming out this early is a little ridiculous.”
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u/Peas-and-Butterflies said: “It’s honestly mental. My daffs have started coming up!”
u/robertandrews said: “I found one like that on my kitchen wall this evening. Wonder if it came free with the poinsettia.”
u/FrazerRPGScott said: “I saw one last week while it was snowing.”
One and nature expert took things one step further, and conducted some research on the phenomenon of early ladybirds in houses to determine what’s going on.
What she found was sadly not good news for lovers of the red-shelled beetles, and urged people to move the harmless creatures – which don’t damage your property – to somewhere more suitable, or they’ll die.
Sian Astley, who has appeared on programmes like Your Home Made Perfect, said via her blog moregous.com: “Firstly it’s not great for ladybirds to stay indoors with central heating and high temperatures.
“It’s too warm and they wake up from hibernation way before their usual March or April, find no natural aphid snacks available and can starve to death.
“Also a dry centrally heated atmosphere can dehydrate and kill them. “That’s why they huddle, to keep moisture up and regulate their temperatures.
“Ladybirds like to cuddle up together in high up places like around the top of window corners. When they’re all cuddled up like this they’re deep asleep but an extra warm day or high central heating stirs and wakes them into thinking it’s Springtime, which is bad news.”
He urged people who find ladybirds in their house to help them out by moving them, usually to a cool dark place or a greenhouse.
He added: “If they’ve huddled up in your shed or a coolish room and they don’t bother you, leave them be, but if the room is too warm, bright or well used, you might want to move them. Far better to be tucked up in a ventilated box with pals in a cool dark place than at risk of early wakening / drying out. A greenhouse is a great place for them to overwinter or an outside porch.”