Ladybug Time

I was up on the roof pruning the birch tree and bushes away from the chimney when I noticed that the

birch tree was filled with various stages of ladybugs. Everything from the tiniest larvae through various

molting stages, through pupae, up until fully-grown adults.

Not surprising, really, as the tree is overrun with aphids and little flies.

I stopped and grabbed my camera. Not the greatest of quality.

I may try to do more tomorrow when I’m not on a ladder or the roof.

I like how the little guy avoided being eaten by traveling on the underside of the branch.

Adult in front, then several thorny larvae, and a pupating one in the back:

One landed on my jeans:

I fed it an aphid that landed on my hand. It gobbled it right up.

6 pupae on one leaf, plus one larvae either getting ready to molt again—I think. Might be getting ready to pupate.

Group of 4 pupae, Part 1

Group of 4 pupae, Part 2 When I shaded them for the shot, one of them “reared up”. Defensive posture?

4 in a line. They look like they are marching but they are not. They are stuck like glue where they are.

At the base, nearest to the branch, you see thorny protrusions. They are the remnants of their old thorny skin.

Two larvae who were marching down the branch, probably looking for a good place to pupate.

If you look carefully, the one on top has a thorny crown.

I wanted to do more. It was fascinating to watch them, but I got yelled at by the boss to get back to work.