A few weeks ago I spotted dozens of ladybugs in different stages of their life cycle in the hedge next door to my office and decided to snap a few photos with my macro lens. I thought it would be fitting to share these at the start of this new year, as ladybugs are said to bring good luck!
A special thanks to everyone for taking the time to visit my blog and for the kind comments and conversation over the past year. I hope that 2013 brings great things to all of you!
Ladybug eggs
Larva stage
Pupa stage
Above you can see the empty shell left behind after the ladybug has emerged.
Entomologists believe that ladybugs are brightly colored in order to defend against predators.
Their brightness and spots are a warning sign to birds that they are toxic and will taste bad if eaten.
I wonder why some have spots and some don't?
And the cycle continues!
This was so incredible--lucky you for capturing ever single stage! I have never seen this before! On my passion fruit vines this year, I had a few butterfly cocoons but I missed the emergence :/ This was so great to see documented! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Becca! We had planted a new type of hedge and I guess the ladybugs must really like that type of plant because they were everywhere! :)
DeleteHi Shannon, what an amazing post! It's so cool that you were able to catch all the stages of ladybug life including the pupa eggs and ladybug shells; I've seen plenty of adult ladybugs, but not the earlier stages :)
ReplyDeleteHi Dovey, Thank you! :) I got lucky because I don't normally bring my camera to work but I brought it in that day to take photos of our office Christmas tree and happened to see all these ladybugs in the lot next door! I've never seen so many in one spot before :)
DeleteLadybugs how cute! Who doesn't love some luck in the new year ? I had to ask what camera and lens are you using ? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi BleedingOrchid, I agree - who couldn't use some good luck?! :) I used a Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 with a Leica 45mm macro lens
DeleteHappy New Year! Wow, I've never seen ladybugs in their earlier stages before. It's interesting that the eggs are purple in color. I believe the difference in spot patterns simply reflects the different species of ladybugs.
ReplyDeleteHi Paige, Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for the info regarding the spots! It's also interesting how some are very red and some or more orangey in color : )
DeleteWhat a breathtaking pictures!
ReplyDeleteThey are so beautiful :)
May I know where do you live?
Hi Memoiselle, Thank you! :) I live in sunny (and hot!) Miami, Florida :)
DeleteThat's wonderful! The pictures have very good quality and can't believe you could capture everything :) Those ladybugs seem so happy :D just the right post for new year and the coming spring time, thank you :D / Claire
ReplyDeleteHi Claire, Thanks for the sweet comment :) Best wishes for 2013!
DeleteOh my God, this is SO SUPER FASCINATING! I don't normally stop my cats from chasing after the bugs that end up in the house, but I systematically save these lil guys because I find them too adorable! Thanks for following them so closely. The eggs creep me out a little but it keeps getting better!
ReplyDeleteHi Sunny, Thank you! This is the first time I've ever seen them in one area in all the different stages! I had no idea they came from eggs that look like that :)
Deletethanks for share.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteAww, this is so cute and your pictures are amazing! I used to love playing with ladybugs as a child until my mom forced me to stop. It's so interesting that some creatures use bright colours to turn away predators while others use camouflage to hide. I see a few of these guys in the house in the summer sometimes, but they're slightly orangey-brownish and not as cute as the bright red ones. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Liz :) Thanks so much! It is interesting that some use bright colors and other camouflage... hmmm makes ya wonder... nature seems mysterious and random sometimes! I like the bright red ones with spots! :)
DeleteThis is so awesome - I love Ladybugs! This is the only insect I just love to watch. I can watch them crawl for hours, they make me smile!
ReplyDeleteHi Lexi, thank you! They are happy looking little bugs! :) A belated happy new year to you :)
DeleteGreat series! It must have been hard to keep track of all the stages, no? I learned a lot, so thank you for this! Also I'm really loving your blog and I can't believe I didn't stumbled up it earlier because the vibe in your posts is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteHi Teri, Thank you so much for the kind comment! I learned a bit about ladybugs while doing this post - I really wasn't sure of the exact order of the stages beforehand and had to do some research online! :)
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