Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Ladybird Swarm (1976?)

I've heard stories about a Ladybird Swarm at New Brighton a few decades ago.

Just wondered if anyone had any information, pictures or stories/memories of their own?

this any use about half way down

http://sixmillionsteps.com/TimeCapsule1976-07.htm

Never heard anything sorry joe.

I remember the lady bird swarm well.If my memory serves me right it was just before lunch and the whole sky went black and next thing you know everything was crawling with black and red bugs.

I remember running in to the house screaming.I also remember that they had to shut New Brighton baths for a couple of days to clean the pool due to the lady birds.

Also either that year or the next we suffered a flying ant storm as well but iT was nowhere near the scale of the ladybirds

I remember it quite well. I was a teenager at the time. There were photos of people shovelling up ladybirds on the prom at New Brighton.

If you go into The Magazine pub (Magazine Lane), there are cartoons on the wall depicting it.

I remember it.It was around 76 but can't be certain,they were knee deep on Hoylake prom by the old baths and had to be shoveled away.They clogged up car radiators and even brakes had to be blown out with airlines.

WOW

I know this thread started a couple of weeks ago but I've only just found it.

I went to a shop on King St Wallasey and there was a block of ice cream melting on the floor outside. Someone had dropped it. by the time I came out (couple of mins) it was a heaving black mound of lady birds. I ran home with my hand over my mouth because there were so many I thought I was going to swallow them. I remember my mum picking them out of my hair. Two kids on bikes were riding round in circles holding tabletennis bats out, swating ladybirds. They had ladybirds all over the bats and up their arms. The cars on Harrison Drive had to pull over because there was no way you could see out of the windscreen to drive!

wow, thanks for that.

Shame there are no pictures

It just reminds me of those killer bee Movies...

Would have been amazing to see.

Maybe a one for looking up in the archives?

There was actual video footage of the walls covered in a red mass on one of the videos posted on this forum a while ago. Someone had posted a series of photos of nostalgic wirral and on one of those videos was a fews seconds of films showing the road looking like it was painted red as well as the sea walls. The video must be a good few pages back now I think.

Ive just looked at The Tower Tribute - Not on there.
A Remminisance - Not on there either.

The ladybirds are HERE

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=169019#Post169019

In part 4 about 60% of the way though

I remember the event well. My daughters thought it was great fun

Snod

Oh aye, nice find

told ya so!