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'Spiny' LadyBug Home !

16 years ago

Hi all,

We've seen some unusual 'bug' photos here at times,and here's another.

Yesterday,while checking on my 'spiny' collection outdoors for the sunmmer,I noticed what I thought was

some debris in the center of one plant,then another,and another,and a few more,and so on.Six plants in all. Well,on close examination,it turned out to be LadyBug colonies,gathered in the leaf centers. About 10 to 20 per plant,from almost adults,to pin head size at the lowest point of the leaf growth. Seems they chose the plants with the most spines,probably for the maximum protection they provide from preditors.So,I took a couple of photos of this unusual happening.

Bob

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Comments (6)

hotdiggetydam
16 years ago
Or they found something to eat on that plant, and called the whole family over for dinner
stephania
16 years ago
Unusual (*_*)' Bob !

Are you sure that they didn't harm your plant ?
BTW, I think your Encholirium horridum look rather withered and need some more water.
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mike4284m
16 years ago
I guess you don't have to worry about aphids!
stephania
16 years ago
Just got to know that they came for mating !
minibim
16 years ago
Always a good sign to see the ladybugs in the garden.
bob740
Original Author
16 years ago
Update on the LadyBugs:
Having caused their removal earlier today,by tipping the plant upside down,and tapping on it,the LB's departed,and all seemed well.
This evening,I checked on them,and the only one with a few LB's on it,was the plant I took the photo of. This plant is still in its original 4" plastic pot,which is inside of a 4"clay pot for stability. I had the thought to check if any of the LB's were hiding inbetween the two pots.
What a surprise, there were at least 40 to 50 LB's there,and they were not exactly happy to have been discovered.
Seems they figured out there is safty in numbers,and those that were in the other plants earlier,now gatherd into this one plant. Clever thinkers,these LB's. This time I took them about 30 feet away,and dumped them in a pile of leaves,hoping they make a new home there. More like an apartment house for them,instead of a cabin. Good thing these bugs are so small,because they seem smarter than me.
Bob ;^)

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