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Wednesday, 13 October 2021

Lady beetles

We love ladybugs, AKA ladybirds.  Back when Isabelle was a young, she was Isabelle Coccinelle. It rhymes, in French.


Life cycle:

In 2015 I made a dress for Isabelle Coccinelle!

They like the hops vine, since they can find the aphids they prey on.

They cluster. One year (2014), when we had our new front window put in, they didn't caulk it enough. I caught 200 of them over a few days until I found where to fill the void.

I caught a bunch of them who tried to overwinter in the umbrella. 
Isabelle drew this once.


It's that time of year! They have been ubiquitous. They are biting, also. I went out to film them, and one flew off the roof, landed on my cheek, and bit me. 

Lady beetles from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

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15 comments:

  1. Kathy G13 October 2021 at 08:44

    You've got some wonderful photos here.

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  2. Yamini MacLean13 October 2021 at 08:59

    Hari OM
    have been around ladybirds all my life - never knew they would bite! I still love them... YAM xx

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  3. Tom13 October 2021 at 09:19

    ...you have quite a collection.

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  4. RedPat13 October 2021 at 09:29

    I didn't know that they bite! I haven't seen many this year. I did see a Monarch on Monday which surprised me.

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  5. Out To Pasture13 October 2021 at 11:27

    Looks like the invasive and aggressive Asian Lady Beetle, Jennifer. They are currently swarming around my house and some are finding their way in. I've read that they are out competing our native, more passive lady beetles. (sigh)

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  6. DrumMajor13 October 2021 at 12:36

    Gee, I haven't connected my science: I didn't know they started as caterpillars. And I didn't know they'd bite! We had one that lived in the nurses bathroom of a 400-bed hospital. No nurse wanted to kill it. We needed our breaks so much, we'd just visit the LadyBug while in the bathroom. We always wondered how it got that deep into the hospital. Linda in Kansas

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  7. Nancy J13 October 2021 at 13:26

    They are so numerous, in our garden centre they have Ceramic Ladybirds, and I didn't know they flew.

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  8. William Kendall13 October 2021 at 13:41

    Colourful, anyway.

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  9. Lorrie13 October 2021 at 20:10

    I think the ones that swarm and bite are invasive species. I like our quiet native variety. There was quite an infestation of the invasive ones in hotels in Vancouver several years ago.

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  10. Far Side of Fifty13 October 2021 at 20:35

    We get them in the fall after the soybeans are harvested, yes they bite and they are stinky:(

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  11. Angie13 October 2021 at 20:39

    Jenn - never knew they would bite. I would love to have more in my garden to deal with the aphids, even though I know the aphids are part of the natural ecosystem!

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  12. Red13 October 2021 at 20:56

    Maybe you can tell me. why do ladybugs sometimes bite? Ordinarily they never bite but why occasionally?

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  13. eileeninmd14 October 2021 at 05:44

    Hello,

    They are so cute, love the little ladybugs.

    Take care, enjoy your day!

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  14. Cloudia14 October 2021 at 14:52

    I so enjoy our visits!

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  15. Anvilcloud14 October 2021 at 16:36

    I wonder if they're still infesting the cottage/country house that we used to visit. They were an issue for years anyway.

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