A ST Albans mum believes a bush in her garden has been infested by a new species which could wipe out native ladybirds. Debbie Roberts, of Sheppards Close, has what she is sure is a swarm of Asian ladybirds covering the bush and has been trying to confirm

A ST Albans mum believes a bush in her garden has been infested by a new species which could wipe out native ladybirds.

Debbie Roberts, of Sheppards Close, has what she is sure is a swarm of Asian ladybirds covering the bush and has been trying to confirm that is what they are.

Asian ladybirds were first found in this country in 2004 and their numbers have since increased dramatically with British ladybirds being outnumbered in many parts of the country.

The fear is that they will eventually destroy native ladybirds because they are very predatory.

Debbie said: "For the past two years they have been spotted more and more and I happened to notice there was a huge area of insect infestation on a bush. They also have caterpillars and wasps all over them.

"I remembered that according to Newsround, they eat plants."

Debbie reported the sighting to the council - "I got the impression they didn't know what I was talking about," she said - and is trying to get it verified by the Royal Entymological Society which has its headquarters at the Gardens of the Rose in Chiswell Green.