Have you ever wondered about ladybirds in Ukraine? Find out all about ladybirds in Ukrainian culture, how many types of ladybirds there are in Ukraine and more. Help Ukraine: Disasters Emergency Committee - https://www.dec.org.uk/ Ukrainian

Episode 51: Artificial Grass with Richard Dowling

Aug 7th, 2022 50m 49s

I interview wildlife campaigner Richard Dowling (@DowlingWildlife on Twitter) about artificial grass. In this episode we talk about what the problems are with it, what the best low-maintenance plants are for your lawn as alternatives to grass,

Episode 49 (50!): A walk around a nature reserve

Jun 1st, 2022 35m 19s

I walk around a nature reserve near my house and look for ladybirds. Apologies in advance for the poor sound quality, I didn't really edit this and recorded it on a phone :) Music by Debra Torrance. Buy me a coffee: https://www.ko-fi.com/

Episode 50 (49!): Interview with Helen Roy!

May 30th, 2022 52m 52s

For episode 50, I interviewed Professor Helen Roy who manages the UK Ladybird Survey. She is the author of several books including the Field Guide to the Ladybirds of the UK and Ireland and one of the most well-known ladybird experts in the wor

Episode 48: Calvia quatuordecimguttata - The Cream-Spot Ladybird

Apr 19th, 2022 21m 59s

All about the cream-spot ladybird. Does include a discussion of reproduction with some mildly strong language so take care while listening! Featuring a promo for the Wild Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wild-episode/id136409

Episode 47: Ladybirds in Cemeteries

Mar 20th, 2022 1h 15m

I interview Mark Welfare from the Northeast Ladybird Spot, and Juliet Wilson and Per Smiseth from Cemetery Wildlife Watch about ladybirds in cemeteries. Around 35 minutes in, the zoom recording cut out, so apologies if it goes a bit weird aroun

Bonus Episode#2: Cheilomenes bidentata - The Lipstick Ladybird

Mar 7th, 2022 7m 6s

Find out about a little-known South African ladybird. Please note that the 'meandering black line' description was not mine but was said by one of the commenters on the posts I looked at for this episode. https://www.inaturalist.org/observatio

Episode 45: Epilachna varivestis - The Mexican Bean Beetle

Feb 10th, 2022 25m 20s

Learn about a ladybird that is one of the world's worst pests of soybeans. Podcast recommendation - Gardeners of the Galaxy (@orbitalgardens on Twitter)Follow me on Twitter: @hwabpodcast Follow me on Instagram: 365.ladybird Buy me a coffee

Episode 44: Ladybirds and Spiders with Tea Francis

Aug 2nd, 2021 1h 21m

Despite what it says in the intro this is episode 44. I talk to spider advocate Tea Francis about the relationship between ladybirds and spiders. We talk about the rare and beautiful Ladybird Spider, what spiders do with ladybirds in their webs

Episode 43: Threats to endangered species with Steve Allain

Jul 27th, 2021 51m 1s

Steve Allain talks me through the changes to protection of endangered species and possible threats to their survival from proposed government legislation and changes to their status. Please note it says 'episode 44' in the intro because it's be

Episode 42: Chilocorus stigma - The Twice-Stabbed Ladybug

Jul 19th, 2021 21m 23s

This week's episode is all about the twice-stabbed ladybug. Found in North America, this ladybird has interesting genetics and a weird lifestyle. Plus, hear an update with new information about the kidney spot! Podcast recommendation - The Wil

Episode 41: Propylea quattuordecimpunctata - The 14-Spot Ladybird

Jul 11th, 2021 20m 44s

Find out about a ladybird with square spots that can be said to resemble a clown face, a football, an emoji, an anchor and more! This week's podcast recommendation is @PodcastSpecies - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vc

Episode 40: 1976 Part 2 - Memories of 1976 with CJ Romer

Jul 3rd, 2021 51m 6s

I talk to paranormal investigator CJ Romer about his memories of 1976, the year when 23 billion ladybirds invaded the UK. We have a fun conversation about his recollection of the ladybird invasion, the sensationalism of the media, how to commun

Episode 39: What happened in 1976? Part 1.

Jul 1st, 2021 35m 49s

You might have heard about the ladybird invasion of 1976. In Part 1 of this special 2-part episode, I talk about what happened in that famous year and talk about possible scientific explanations of what might have happened, as well as the impac

Episode 38: Cheilomenes sexmaculata - The 6-Spotted Zigzag Ladybird

Jun 16th, 2021 15m 5s

Discover the world of the 6-spotted zigzag ladybird, a commonly found ladybird in India and the Pacific. Picture used on the episode artwork by Renju from Kerala, India (user: Renjusplace on wikipedia) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C

Episode 37: Ladybirds and Ants

Jun 7th, 2021 27m 9s

A deep dive into the relationships between ladybirds and ants. With a podcast recommendation for Just Plain Wrong - @plainwrongpod on Twitter. My apologies for the muffled audio quality on this episode - in the first version it sounded very un

Episode 36: Ladybirds in Palestine with Mohammad Najajrah and Mazin Qumsiyeh

May 28th, 2021 32m 45s

In 2019 Mohammad Najajrah and Mazin Qumsiyeh from the Palestine Museum of Natural History, at the University of Bethlehem, carried out the first ever study of ladybirds in the West Bank. They found 35 species. In this episode, I talked to them

Episode 35: Oenopia shirkuhensis

May 23rd, 2021 16m 37s

Learn about a newly discovered ladybird from the Shirkuh mountain range in Iran, only confirmed as a new species in 2020. Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of a ladybird's genitalia. Listen to the UK Wildlife Podcast's lates

Episode 34: Halmus chalybeus - The SteelBlue Ladybird

May 12th, 2021 17m 4s

Learn about a metallic blue ladybird native to Australia. Plus, coming up is the UK Wildlife Podcast's 50th episode - stay tuned for the link! The picture is by user Raewyn on Wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steelblue_Ladyb

Episode 33: Ladybird Books ... Interview with Helen Day

May 5th, 2021 1h 11m

Helen Day who runs the website Ladybird Fly Away Home, dedicated to vintage Ladybird Books, talks to me about the history of the company, the artists involved, the topics covered, the most popular series and much more. You can find Helen's web

Episode 32: Coccinella undecimpunctata - The 11-Spot Ladybird

Apr 27th, 2021 18m 58s

Find out about the ladybird behind Ladybird Books - the 11-spot ladybird. With a promo for CritterCast podcast. Also please check out Ryan Dalton's Into the Wild :) Correction: The two white dots are on the ladybird's head not the pronotum. S

Episode 31: Scymnus interruptus - The Red-Flanked Scymnus Ladybird

Apr 21st, 2021 15m 58s

Learn about the tiny inconspicuous ladybird Scymnus interruptus!With a recommendation for Grubbing in the Filth podcast. Take a look at @gtifpodcast on Twitter or wherever you get your podcasts. Look out for CritterCast's episode next week! C

Episode 30: Synonycha grandis - The Giant Bamboo Ladybird (Golden 13 Star Ladybird)

Apr 13th, 2021 19m 2s

This week, learn about the Giant Bamboo Ladybird, one of the biggest ladybirds in the world - and some of the fiercest aphids in the world, living in South East Asian bamboo forests. With a promo for the RedHanded podcast. Sources: https://r.

Bonus Episode#1: Coccinella saucerotti

Apr 8th, 2021 10m 54s

Discover a mysterious ladybird which feeds on leaf-beetle larvae, in this bonus episode for Hidden Wings and Bloodlust. Sources: Studies on leaf-beetles in Turkey: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19931180571 https://www.cabi.or

Episode 29: Coccinella quinquepunctata - The 5-Spot Ladybird

Apr 8th, 2021 17m 23s

Find out all about the 5-spot ladybird and its unusual habitat in Wales and Scotland. Thank you to Daryn Johnson for pronouncing the Welsh place-names! Sources: https://influentialpoints.com/biocontrol/Coccinella_quinquepunctata_five-spot_lad