The beetles we call ladybirds (ladybugs) number about 50 species in Britain and many are common in gardens. They are more than just pretty insects to have about the place: they are very useful! Their voracious appetite for aphids (greenfly, blackfly) make them important biological control agents for these important pests. As such, ladybirds are the gardener's ally in the constant battle against aphids and insects which compete with us for our vegetables and damage our flowering plants.
This book outlines the fascinating natural history of ladybirds and how some lead quite specialised lives alongside us in our gardens and suggests ways in which we can make our gardens more attractive to ladybirds – the gardener's friend!