Rat eaten project wins New Plymouth ladybird breeders spot in international problem-solving competition
The group started again, ordering more 11-spotted ladybirds, but again a rat broke in and ate them. But by then their project was completed, and they had enough evidence on how to breed the ladybirds to be able to put together a report and submit their entry in the competition. The orange and black-spotted insects are native to Central and Eastern Asia and were first discovered in Auckland in 2016. They are now considered a seasonal pest. Importantly, the harlequin ladybird, not only eats aphids, which is the main food source for native ladybirds, but they also eat other ladybird species.
Source: stuff.co.nz