thunder bugs

Haven’t seen any thunderbugs yet here in Essex, perhaps it’s a bit early for them.
But I did have a daddy-long-legs in the house yesterday evening!

In north west Wales We have a few ladybirds no swallows and a few house martins but not nearly as many as we used to

Oldnproud,
I only see them when thunder is due, so I guess
one thunderbug does not a storm predict,
any more than one swallow does not a summer make
do swallows eat ladybirds though? these birds are high,
I don’t want them feasting on ladybird, which we need
for gorging on aphids

I’m looking for hopeful signs really, that this weather
will soon break
it’s been costly too, not only increase in fuel costs,
black out blinds, fans, freezers,
but extra bottled water and other drinks, ice cream
(Mackies on offer atm) and more Magnums than one
could shake a stick at - no wonder I’m feeling queasy.

The sky here is clearing a little, cloud not so dense.

Loads of ladybirds in my garden, though not in actual swarms yet.

I have watched them go through a full life cycle this year, as first the ladybirds laid their eggs, from which the alien-looking larvae hatched about a week later, then after feeding well on the aphids on my cherry tree (i think that lasted another week), they latched onto the leaves and many have now developed into ladybirds.
It won't be long before they repeat the cycle.

Yes, the thunder bugs have been about all week here, though fortunately in small numbers. There is one crawling across my screen as I type.
So far I have been able to tolerate them, but there are usually a couple of weeks in early July when I have to stay indoors because of them.
I didn't know they existed until we moved to Northamptonshire when I was in my mid 20s!