AN invasion of ladybirds hit Bolton last week with the little critters seeking somewhere to hibernate in homes all over the borough.

The harlequin ladybirds are not native to the British Isles and have been flying in on warm summer winds from Asia and North America for years.

Unlike our native ladybirds these harlequins prefer to sleep indoors and it can be quite a shock to find clusters of the little bugs in your window and door frames.

The bugs were first brought to the attention of The Bolton News when they were spotted in Bromley Cross.

Since then readers have been getting in touch with more pictures of the six-legged creepy-crawlies.

They have been spotted swarming on a fence in Moorland Grove and in the doorway of a home by reader Annie Harrison who sent in a picture.

Ms Harrison also came face to face with a whole wall of the ladybirds in Moses Gate Park.

A reader in Rossendale, Warren Kershaw, sent in his pictures of the bugs which had gathered in his window frames.

Another reader commented: “Masses of them the other day, especially on the white bricks of my house and my white car.

“Yesterday I opened my cars rear door to put some shopping in and there were quite a few on the inside of the door frame.”

The ladybirds are slightly larger than our native bugs and are known to eat the smaller species.

The harlequins (Harmonia axyridis) carry a sexually transmitted fungal infection (Laboulbeniales) which they can give to native ladybirds who are more susceptible to it.

Unlike our native species, harlequins prefer to hibernate indoors and are drawn to pale surfaces which are thought to be reminiscent of the cliffs they would live in in Asia. British species usually choose to hibernate under leaves and branches.

In our poll last week, which had 470 responses from readers, revealed 52 per cent of people had found the ladybirds invading their homes.

Scientists say the ladybirds are mostly harmless and can be left alone if they are found in your house.

A national study is taking place into the spread of the Harlequin Ladybird - which can live on most trees and low-growing plants, reedbeds, coniferous woodland and crops - and the public has been urged to log sightings of the creature online.

A spokesman for the UK Ladybird Survey said: “There are 46 species of ladybird residents in Britain and the recent arrival of the harlequin ladybird has the potential to jeopardise many of these. The Harlequin Ladybird Survey will monitor its spread across Britain.” and assess its impact on native ladybirds.”

To find out more, or take part in the survey, go to harlequin-survey.org