In recent weeks, tourists who spend their holiday along Bulgaria’s Northern Black Sea coast have witnessed an unusual phenomenon - a mass invasion of ladybugs. According to biology experts, however, the seven-spotted ladybug is a good insect. Its elytra are of a red color, but punctuated with three black spots each, with one further spot being spread over the junction of the two, making a total of seven spots, from which the species derives its name. The seven-spotted ladybug is an extremely useful insect, because it consumes between 200 and 300 aphids per day:

“Ladybugs are natural enemies of aphids, whose population growth rate is unusually high this year- Dr. Antoaneta Toncheva, Director of the municipal enterprise “Disinfection, Disinfestation and Deratization” said in an interview for BNR-Varna. – A population growth was also observed in another species in the past. We registered a similar overpopulation of aphids some 20-25 years ago when there were clouds of ladybugs, which are a natural enemy of aphids.”

Contrary to the claims that the ladybugs noticed at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast are Asian and they bite, Dr. Antoaneta Toncheva noted that the seven-spotted ladybug is a local insect. There are 7 or 8 species of ladybugs in Bulgaria. They can only pinch you if they are in danger. However, humans are not their target. This is a natural pest control process and the ecosystem tries to deal with the problem on its own. When we use crop protection chemicals, the useful insects die together with the pests. That is why biological pest control is the best solution. People even used the seven-spotted ladybug to get rid of aphids, which often attack cereal crops and other plants. The small flies that look like wasps and scare away the tourists are not dangerous either.

Experts advise people to avoid touching the ladybugs, because they exude a substance that is toxic for other insects and may cause allergic reactions.

The recent rainfalls created favorable conditions for ticks and mosquitos, which can sometimes spoil your vacation. However, tourists have nothing to worry about, because past control activities have been taking place in grassland, children’s playgrounds and parks on a regular basis. In the evening hours, when no tourists are around, the chestnut trees are sprayed against moths.

Compiled by: Darina Grigorova (based on interview by Daniela Stoynova)

English version: Kostadin Atanasov