A report into the global status of ladybirds reveals the threats they face and lays out a roadmap for conservation. These vital pest controllers for farmers and gardeners are considered to be in decline globally due to human activities, and species are poorly understood.
The survey’s authors call for greater citizen science efforts to encourage more people to record ladybirds around the world. They also urge conservation efforts to protect habitats, in particular the sites that ladybirds rely on to survive the adverse conditions of winters.
The research was compiled by an international group of experts, including ecologists at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, University of the Azores, and Ghent University, as well as all members of the IUCN SSC Ladybird Specialist Group. It identifies gaps in knowledge about how ladybirds are responding to environmental changes affecting global biodiversity while suggesting actions to protect ladybirds and other insects.
Read more at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Image: A 7-spot ladybird takes shelter in a garden. (Credit: Denise Pallett)