Survey to track 'alien' ladybird
A UK-wide survey is being launched to track an alien ladybird that threatens the existence of native species. The harlequin (Harmonia axyridis) was first spotted in Britain in September last year and is largely confined to the South East. But the invader is a voracious predator that easily out-competes home bugs for food and is likely to spread north. Scientists want gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts to report sightings of the pest to www.harlequin-survey.org.