Cannibal harlequin ladybirds are posing a new threat to Britain’s native species after scientists warned the variety was spreading a virulent sexually transmitted fungal infection.

Scottish scientists are concerned the insect fungus, which is transmitted primarily through mating, may be passed onto native species from the non-indigenous type with unpredictable consequences, the Scotsman reports.

Many harlequin ladybirds are already suffering from the Laboulbeniales fungal infection, according to studies conducted by the University of Stirling’s departments of biological and environmental sciences with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Researcher Matt Tinsley said: “The study will allow us to know where this fungus has spread to and what proportion of native and invasive ladybirds are infected.”

The number of harlequin ladybirds has greatly increased in recent years after they were first seen in the UK in 2004 when they were imported to Europe from East Asia for commercial pest control of crops.

A bug's life: know your ladybirds Show all 7 1 /7 A bug's life: know your ladybirds A bug's life: know your ladybirds Harlequin ladybird First seen in the UK in 2004, the harlequin is now the most populous species of ladybird. Feasts on aphids, other ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies. Spreading at more than 100km a year, it is rapidly conquering the country Creative Commons A bug's life: know your ladybirds Seven-spot ladybird Goes into leaf litter over the winter months. Historically, the most populous species seen in gardens. Now the second most numerous species, with distribution remaining high Creative Commons A bug's life: know your ladybirds Two-spot ladybird Suffered dramatic decline since the arrival of the harlequin. A decade ago, it was the second most populous species, now not in the top ten of the 47 ladybird species in the UK. Feeds on aphids, shelters in people’s homes over winter months Rex A bug's life: know your ladybirds 14-spot ladybird This aphid-feeder yellow ladybird has square spots. A common species, which has seen a rise in numbers this year Creative Commons A bug's life: know your ladybirds Kidney spot ladybird This small, black ladybird with two red spots feeds on tiny insects. Often seen on deciduous trees, and hides in the cracks of deciduous trees over winter Creative Commons A bug's life: know your ladybirds Orange ladybird This ladybird feeds off mildew. Experiencing a huge distribution increase, thought to be because the warmer, wetter weather in the UK gives it more food Creative Commons A bug's life: know your ladybirds Eyed ladybird Britain’s biggest ladybird, feeds on aphids, most usually found on conifer trees or sheltering in leaf litter over winter Creative Commons

Since the arrival of the harlequins, the two-spotted population has declined by as much as 30 per cent, due in no small part to the thuggish ladybird’s diet.

The larger ladybird, officially known as Harmonia axyridis, does not eat only one type of food (as other ladybird breeds do) instead consuming aphids, greenfly, lacewings, hoverflies – and even other ladybirds.

In a study reported in the Daily Mail earlier this year, researchers noted the harlequin – which has become the second-most populous ladybird in the UK – was damaging the delicate diversity of the UK’s ladybird population.

The insects are brightly coloured because they contain defensive toxic chemicals, but the harlequin’s possesses strong toxins than any of the 47 breeds already native to Britain.