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."
Tags: Alberta Canada southern Alberta NW of Calgary Water Valley area Keith Logan's place nature insect beetle Ladybug Two-spotted Ladybug Adalia bipunctata leaf macro close-up square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ40 DMC-FZ40 FZ40 Lumix point-and-shoot P1080425 FZ40 annkelliott beautiful_expression NaturesFinest SuperEco
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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.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta nature insect Ladybug Lady Beetle red Two-Spotted Ladybug Adalia bipunctata tiny flower flora flowers white petals on black image photograph digital color image Panasonic DMC-FZ28 FZ28 Lumix point-and-shoot P1300941 FZ28 annkelliott beautiful_expression Feels Good Explore interestingness#24 explore2009December5 © Anne Elliott 2009 © All Rights Reserved
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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?
Tags: FantasticInsect Explore interestingness#323 explore2010October7
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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.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park nature plant wildlife Ladybug Leafy Spurge invasive species
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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" : )
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta Reader Rock Garden nature outdoors plant botany flora garden flower flowers Poppy opening bud petals orange hairs Ladybug Seven-spotted Ladybug image photograph digital color image beauty beautiful beauty in nature colorful exquisite horizontal no people Panasonic DMC-FZ28 FZ28 Lumix point-and-shoot P1280174 FZ28 annkelliott beautiful_expression Feels Good Explore interestingness#230 explore2009October2 © Anne Elliott 2009 © All Rights Reserved
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