The invasion of ladybugs in Odesa is not over yet, but entomologists say it's a good thing

June was marked for Odesa residents by an invasion of ladybugs, aka "Ladybugs," which were seen all over the city and caused concern among tourists and citizens.

The Accent investigated where they come from, whether it is an enemy sabotage or climate change, and whether all these insects are safe.

Scientists assure that a large number of ladybugs does not harm either human health or the environment, but is beneficial. After all, the increase in the number of these beetles is a consequence of the growth of the aphid population, which ladybugs feed on. Aphids, on the other hand, are a pest because they feed on plants and cause considerable damage to green spaces.

According to Iryna Ishchenko, a professor at Odesa State Agrarian University, harmful species of ladybugs, such as the dotless ladybug, are not found in Ukraine, and those that are present in the country's ecosystem are not harmful to humans.

The same opinion was previously expressed by Vladyslav Mykhailenko, PhD in ecology.

The last time such an increase in the population of ladybugs in Odesa region was observed was in the summer of 2021. Then entomologists noted that such an invasion is possible once every 5-6 years.

Кирило Бойко