During the UK’s third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures soaring above 30°C for several days, many flocked to the nation’s beaches to soak up the sun. Yet, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, the usually bustling beach was unexpectedly deserted.
Weston-super-Mare boasts one of Britain’s largest natural beaches, stretching along the Bristol Channel with its vast sandy shore and iconic seaside attractions. The town also features a wide, flat promenade with plenty of seating for those who prefer to stay off the sand. With such appeal, a hot summer’s day would typically draw large crowds—but not this time.
Instead, visitors were steering clear of the beach due to an overwhelming infestation of ladybirds. Unaware of this, mother Lauren Whitman took to TikTok to share her surprise at the empty shoreline despite the glorious weather.
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“Wondering why the beach is so empty in 30+ degree sunshine,” she captioned her video while filming the quiet scene.
Curious, Lauren explored the beach with her family and quickly uncovered the reason for the absence: ladybirds. Her footage shows her three-year-old son covered in the tiny beetles, which swarmed over his T-shirt. A nearby white structure was buzzing with hundreds of ladybirds flying between the building and the camera.
Lauren filmed a ladybird crawling over her arm and stomach, and even her partner’s bare back was dotted with the insects.
“Never experienced anything like it,” she remarked.
Her video went viral, garnering over 1.7 million views in just two days, sparking a flood of comments from intrigued viewers. Some shared their fears: “I am absolutely petrified of ladybirds. I think I’d pass away.” Others compared it to other seasonal insect events: “Wait, so there’s a flying ant day and a ladybird day?” Many agreed this year has seen an unprecedented number of ladybirds, with one describing it as feeling “like flying ant day all the time.”
Some revealed unusual encounters, including one person who said, “A ladybird dived at me today and bit my arm! I didn’t even realise they bite!”
Residents from other areas, such as the northwest, reported similar scenes, with one noting, “Formby was the same today… the sea looked like a ladybird graveyard.”
While the ladybird swarms have caused a stir and some discomfort, experts like PestUK reassure that the insects are harmless to humans. Their temporary invasion, while inconvenient, is just part of the natural seasonal cycle.