WORKERS at a National Trust home had a spotty surprise when they opened a door to find a large number of ladybirds. 

The 'loveliness' of ladybirds was found at Croome National Trust behind a door that had not been opened for a while. 

Wendy Carter, communications lead for Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, explained that ladybirds usually gather this way to hibernate for the winter.

She said: "Gathering together for hibernation is probably for defensive reasons (protection in numbers) but it may also make it easier to find a mate when they wake up in spring.

"It's thought that some species emit a pheromone, a kind of perfume, to attract others to suitable hibernation spots."

A loveliness of ladybirds is the name given to a large group of them altogether. 

While there are various species of ladybirds in the picture, captured by Craig Welsby, one of the species is an invasive one known as the harlequin ladybird.

Ms Carter added: "Harlequin ladybirds are an invasive species that have been in the UK since 2004 and are now seen across the whole country - they're native to Asia.

"They were originally introduced to Europe as a biological control of pest insects and probably spread to the UK that way.

"They both out-compete some species of native ladybird for food (they feed mainly on aphids, as do several other species of ladybird) as well as predate some ladybirds.

"Harlequins would probably hibernate in caves or hollow trees naturally but often they're found in lofts in the UK.

"16-spot ladybirds also hibernate in large aggregations.

"Other ladybirds, like 7-spots, are found in smaller numbers."

In Britain we have 47 species: 27 are conspicuous ladybirds and 20 are inconspicuous.

The inconspicuous ones are tiny, duller in appearance and don’t really look like their larger, more familiar, spotted cousins.

While the typical image of a ladybird is red with black spots, they can be black with red spots, yellow with black spots, black with yellow spots amongst other colourful combinations.