A previously unrecorded ladybird species has been documented in the UK for the first time, following this summer’s hot weather.
Prof. Russell Wynn, Director of Wild New Forest, confirmed that Little Arboreal Ladybirds were discovered in moth traps across the New Forest, with no prior verified British records.
The insects, typically native to France and continental Europe, have crossed the English Channel and established themselves in Southampton and the New Forest. Prof. Wynn noted that the UK Species Inventory will now officially recognise them as new to Britain.
He explained that warming temperatures have encouraged many winged insects, including moths and butterflies, to move north and colonise southern England. “It’s been a good year for many insects, ladybirds included,” he added.
The New Forest, with its ancient woodland, heaths, fens, and bogs, provides ideal conditions for colonisation. Restoration projects under the Species Survival Fund (SSF) are further expanding suitable habitats.
Prof. Wynn also highlighted the rediscovery of the nationally scarce 13-spot ladybird in the forest for the first time in two decades, alongside sightings of the Adonis ladybird in drier areas.
He stressed that biodiversity in the UK is in a period of flux due to climate change. “If we can provide a home for species that are naturally colonising and moving north, it’s a positive step as they will be the ones to thrive in the coming decades,” he said.
Encouraging the public to explore and appreciate the forest’s rich biodiversity, Prof. Wynn noted that the species arriving today are likely to shape the ecosystem of the future. “They will be the ones maintaining our biodiversity and ensuring that we still have wildlife to enjoy in 100 years,” he said.
