A pretty seaside resort in Somerset has been invaded by thousands of little beetles which can give a sharp nip – as one poor lass discovered when they smothered her back
The UK has enjoyed its fair share of sunshine and heat this year, with prolonged spells of dry weather. Spring 2025 was the warmest on record, while June was the warmest ever in England. The back to back heatwaves continued into July and we may see high pressure return once again in August.
It’s not only sun worshippers and seekers who enjoy this weather though – certain insects thrive in these conditions too. Some might say a little too much. Holidaymakers and those who were making the most of the blissful days got much more than they bargained for when they hit the beach at one of the country’s most popular coastal spots.
Weston-super-Mare is a classic seaside town with everything you’d traditionally expect. There’s a pier with rides, arcades and entertainment; a long sandy beach and a safe swimming area, making it great for families. It comes after a British man claimed ‘I moved from UK to Benidorm – price of a pint and Full English left me floored’.
READ MORE: Family of 10 ‘barge out’ of pub in brazen dine and dash after £320 mealREAD MORE: Spanish islands fear Brits won’t return as tourists are dealt another blow
What you may not expect is a swarm of insects which can give an uncomfortable nip. That was what greeted the people and visitors to the town in mid July when thousands of ladybugs could be seen flying through the air and crawling across everything, including the backs, necks and hands of those wandering about.
One clip shared on social media shows a lad filming as he’s walking down the street. The TikTok video is captioned, “Do not go to Weston-super-Mare ladybugs swarming and they bite”.
The girl in front of him is heard crying out in pain, yelling: “Owww,” as the little critters take a nip of her.
Clearly amused, the lad then pans to an outside seating area where the numerous insects can be seen flying around. He shows his own shirt which is also covered in the bugs before turning his camera back to the girl in front of him who is still struggling with the pain of the bites as she bows her head.
His was one of many videos and pictures shared online by victims of the critters. Others showed trees teaming with the ladybugs, while another panned around a deserted beach, asking why it was empty in 30 degree heat.
The answer was made obvious when a little boy whose neck had a number of the red insects crawling around it was seen. A view from inside a house showed them crawling all over the windows and flying about in their thousands through the air outside.
According to experts, the surge in ladybird populations has been fuelled by the ideal combination of intermittent rain and warm spells. Ecologist and ladybird specialist, Professor Helen Roy from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology revealed why we are seeing so many of them: “Many species of aphid-feeding ladybird such as the seven-spot ladybird are being seen in very high numbers this year,” she said.
“This is a consequence of the high aphid numbers and warm weather. People are reporting many sightings to the UK Ladybird Survey through iRecord, which is fantastic.”
She also explained how to assist the bugs, which are generally considered good for gardens because they can deal with unwanted pests: “If people want to help insects and other wildlife in this weather they can leave shallow dishes with a little water for them. Also, we encourage people to leave the aphids in their garden on roses and other plants so there is plenty of food for ladybirds.”
When it comes to their bite, there’s nothing to worry about either. It only feels like a pinch and it isn’t venomous. They are able to bite because of their chewing mouthparts but they won’t break the skin and aren’t known to carry infectious diseases.
They will normally only give you a nip if they feel threatened or are looking for water in hot weather, which probably explains why those in Weston-super-Mare experienced a little ladybug pain.