Ladybirds are among the top lucky symbols, along with horseshoes, black cats and four-leaf clovers. They are also very useful in the garden.

Ladybirds are perhaps one of the most useful (to us) beetles because throughout their lives they feed on greenfly. Their most obvious predator would be insect-eating birds, but ladybirds have a disagreeable taste and smell and are avoided.

On the continent, they sell little packs of live ladybirds so you can carry out eco-friendly pest control in your own garden.