The most placid of insects (unless you're watching "A Bug's Life"), ladybirds have no particlar faults whatsoever: they don't buzz, sting, bite, roll dung, give you malaria or ruin your picnic. The spot   count varies from 'bird to 'bird, as does the carapace colour: red, orange or even the weirdly inverse black with orange spots. For such a placid insect, the invocation of the children's rhyme - "Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home ... your house is on fire and your children are alone" - seems to be quite malicious and undeserved. Kids can be so cruel. DP

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