A WILTSHIRE garden centre is this week asking gardeners to keep a look out for one of the country's native species of ladybirds.

Staff at Blooms Garden Centre - Swindon, which is located on Hay Lane near Wroughton, are backing the 2008 UK Ladybird Survey to record sightings of the two-spot ladybird as it is being threatened by the foreign harlequin ladybird, which is spreading throughout the UK.

Garden centre Manager, Phil Tyzack explained: "We're offering visitors to the garden centre during National Insect Week, which runs from June 23 until 29, the opportunity to take home free survey forms to help monitor any two-spot ladybirds they see."

Most ladybirds are predators, eating aphids, scale insects and other sap-sucking insects, which is why they are so popular with gardeners.

When aphids are scarce, harlequin ladybirds consume other prey including ladybird eggs, larvae and pupae.

Entomologists, who study insects, are concerned that the two-spot ladybird could be in decline, particularly in places where the invasive harlequin ladybird occurs.

Phil added: "The harlequin ladybird is out-competing native species like the two-spot for food and preying on them when food is in short supply. Our native ladybird is the gardener's friend so it's very important we protect them."

During National Insect Week, staff at Blooms Garden Centre - Swindon, which is part of the Wyevale family of garden centres, are creating displays of products and plants that attract insects, particularly ladybirds and bees - two of the gardener's best friends, into the garden.

The garden centre stocks a range of ladybird and bee-friendly products such as bee logs and ladybird towers and attractant.

Phil continued: "Bumblebees are beautiful creatures. They are also important pollinators of flowers and crops."

The Tree Bumblebee arrived in the UK about six years ago from France and is gradually spreading north. It is a welcome addition to the native bee population. It's a very distinctive looking bee. It has a distinctive central body section colouring of all brown, a black abdomen and a white tail.

To collect a free survey form for the bee and/or ladybird surveys and to find out more, please visit Blooms Garden Centre - Swindon, which is located on Hay Lane near Wroughton, during National Insect Week, which runs from June 23 until 29, or call the garden centre on 01793 852736. You can also visit www.wyevale.co.uk for further details.