Plague of ladybirds in Norfolk home leaves four-year-old girl with nightmares

Ladybirds are infesting properties is Old Catton. Photo: Zoe Gough Archant

A mother from Old Catton has said a swarm of ladybirds that have infested her home are giving her young daughter nightmares.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

Ladybirds are infesting properties is Old Catton. Photo: Zoe Gough Ladybirds are infesting properties is Old Catton. Photo: Zoe Gough

Zoe Gough, 26, explained how every year her Old Catton home faces an onslaught of the ladybird beetle.

She said from early September up until February her window sills are beset with the red and black insects – a number of which are the infamous STD-carrying harlequin variety.

Ladybirds crawling on the window of a home in Gunthorpe. Photo: Sally Harwood Ladybirds crawling on the window of a home in Gunthorpe. Photo: Sally Harwood

“It’s frustrating,” said Miss Gough, “It has gotten to the point that my daughter is petrified of ladybirds because of the sheer volume of them that collect at the windows.

“She tells me that she has nightmares that they’re crawling all over her.”

Ladybirds swarming in a Norfolk home. Photo: Michelle Kitch Ladybirds swarming in a Norfolk home. Photo: Michelle Kitch

MORE: Homes swarmed by ladybirds across Norfolk

Miss Gough revealed that both her and her daughter, who is four, have found the bugs in their beds.

Becky Mills spotted ladybirds clustered around her door in West Raynham. Photo: Becky Mills Becky Mills spotted ladybirds clustered around her door in West Raynham. Photo: Becky Mills

“It’s not just us,” she said, “We’re in a block of six properties and everyone is complaining about it.

“I think they collect here because our window frames are white and they’re attracted to light colours, some of the most swarmed windows are south facing so they’re are in the sun all the time and they like warmth.

“Sometimes there’s hundreds on each window, there has to be thousands all together.”

This month reports of ladybird swarms have been pouring in from all over the UK, with many home-owners particularly concerned about harlequin ladybirds - an inverted version of the more familiar type with black wings covered in red spots.

While this variety of ladybird beetle carry a type of STD, the disease only affects other insects and crustaceans so is not harmful to humans.

• Have you seen an increase in Ladybirds this month? Let us know in the comments.