Ladybugs

Yesterday, I was so excited because I thought that maybe I had photographed a new (to me) species of Ladybug, on a botanizing day trip to Keith Logan's, about 2 miles south of Water Valley. Unfortunately, this little guy is still a native Two-spotted Ladybug, despite looking more like a "Four-spotted" one, if there was such a thing. Thanks to Corey Husic at BugGuide website for confirming that this is in fact "just" a Two-spotted Ladybug. Also, according to the book, "Bugs of Alberta", "Two-spotted Ladybugs are amazingly variable. Most have two black spots on a red background, while others have four spots or two red shoulder parches on a black background."

When I went downstairs to my kitchen a few days ago, I noticed this tiny Two-spotted Ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) on one of the flowers. My kitchen is quite dark, especially as I still haven't changed an awkward lightbulb in there, so I grabbed a flashlight and snapped this. There are approximately 35 species of Ladybug in Alberta. "This most familiar Lady Beetle is found throughout Alberta in fields and gardens. As winter approaches, the Two-spotted Lady Beetle might move into your house to seek a dry safe place to hibernate for winter .....The Two-spotted Lady Beetle overwinters as an adult under piles of leaf litter or in some other protected space. Sometimes they congregate in large numbers to sleep away winter." From talkaboutwildlife.org. After a beautiful day yesterday, today it's -2C and we have had/are still having heavy snow all day long, and now a strong wind has developed. Here comes winter, AGAIN! So depressing. (Note to self, because I have such a bad memory: I saw this photo in Explore at #85 last night, but it was not picked up by Scout. I'm beginning to get a little irritated that yet another photo has been missed by Scout in the last week, but I'm sure this happens to many of you, too : )) Later: yay, it's finally shown up on Scout.

A few days ago, I was down on all fours, photographing a handful of dug-over, dried out Bird's-nest Fungi, when I happened to catch sight of this little Ladybug sitting on a shrivelled leaf. Like the Mountain Ash in my previous photo, this little Seven-spotted Ladybug is also a non-native species, which has unfortunately greatly reduced the numbers of our own native Ladybugs. Still pretty though, eh?

I helped at a Leafy Spurge "pull" this morning, trying to remove some of these invasive plants from down near the Bow River at Fish Creek Park. When this plant is growing, it means that native plants can't grow there. Couldn't resist photographing this bright little Ladybug on the top of one of the Leafy Spurge plants. Erika's mum, if you see and read this, this is what Erika was busy doing this morning! She mentioned that she had given you the link for my Flickr photostream - hope you enjoy seeing some of the beautiful things that you may have seen when you were here in Canada, visiting Erika and family.

One of the very last Poppies at the Reader Rock Garden when I was there recently. I love Poppies in all their stages, including the white-haired buds. I find it fascinating to see how those gorgeous orange petals are so cleverly folded into that small space. And then I noticed the little Seven-spotted Ladybug tucked in there as well, surrounded by her luxurious "satin sheets" : )

This little Seven-spotted Ladybug caught my eye when I was on a walk in Confluence Park a week ago. "With approximately 35 species of Ladybug in Alberta, identifying the exact species is a bit more of a challenge. The Seven-spotted is one of our largest ladybird beetles, getting up to 7 mm long. It has seven round black spots on the elytra (modified front wings that protect the body). Immatures are rather like short caterpillars, and are dark grey with yellow spots ..... Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetles are now the most common ladybird beetle in Alberta and can be found in most habitats. These and other ladybird beetles are often encountered in large numbers in the fall when they are preparing to hibernate .... This species was originally introduced into North America from Europe in the 1950s .... The Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetle was brought in from Europe in the hope that it would help control populations of pests like aphids. It is doubtful that it has made any real difference, but what has happened is some of our native species have suffered a decline in populations since the Seven-spotted was introduced, perhaps because the Seven-spotted outcompetes them." From www.royalalbertamuseum.ca .

This is the only Convergent Ladybug I have ever seen.

These common wildflowers, Tall Lungwort/Languid Ladies/Bluebell - and Dangling Damsels, according to one of my friends! - seem to grow everywhere, and I occasionally stop to shoot a little hanging cluster of the blue flowers and pink buds. This time, however, I was lucky enough to spot a Ladybug (pardon the pun, LOL)! Seen on someone's property near Millarville, south west of Calgary, when we went to botanize the area.

Until I saw this ladybug, I had no idea that there were yellow ladybugs and certainly not here. This is the first and only one I have ever seen.