In wintertime ladybirds hibernate, often in large groups sometimes numbering thousands.

Different species hibernate in different places.  Some shelter under tree bark, others sleep under leaf litter etc.

Quite a few people have been asking us about ladybirds in their homes.  As the colder November weather sets in their natural food supplies dry up, and that's when we see more ladybirds coming into our homes.  This isn't always the best place for a ladybird to hibernate through the winter.

In a more natural environment they would sleep through until March or April (springtime), but the heating in our homes wakes them up prematurely.  If they wake up in the middle of winter there are no aphids for them to eat, so consequently they starve to death.

Ideally you should move them to an outdoor habitat where they'll remain frost free and where they won't be attacked by predators.  A shed or garage will do, or an insect house, which you can buy at most garden centres.

If you don't want to fork out on a ready-made insect house there's a page here showing how to make an insect hotel for next to nothing.

Use a pooter, or a soft artist's paintbrush to coax the ladybirds out of crevices and into a container.  You can then transfer them to the insect hotel.  If you try to pick them up with your fingers you could squash them or break their limbs.

You may find that some of the ladybirds you find in your home are the Asian or Harlequin ladybirds.  You may want to consier an alternative relocation strategy for these insects to prevent them eating all your native ladybirds.

Related Pages

• Ladybird Section
• Lacewing Fact File
• Crepy-crawlies Section
• UK Safari News