Reduviidae: Assassin Bugs

   Hello again! As spring has officially begun, I was going through my photos and thinking about what I really enjoy seeing the most and landed upon assassin bugs. I only have two kinds but I have many pictures of each. I never expect to find these guys because they're incredibly well camoflage but I always get excited when we spot one! The first picture I shared is of a time I remember with Joe when we were looking for other bugs and found this guy just hiding there!

   Members of Reduviidae are also hemipterans which means they are true bugs due to their piercing-sucking mouthparts. They are one of the largest families in Hemiptera. Almost all species in this family are terrestrial ambush predators. 

   Below is my favorite photo I've taken of the Pale green assassin bug (Zelus luridus). He really looks like an assassin lying in wait here!

   Most members of this family have a long, narrow neck, sturdy build, long legs, segmented body, and a curved proboscis. Coloration depends on species but they're usually brightly colored with hues of black, brown, red or orange. 

   Adults range from 12-36mm in size dependent on species. The legs of some members have areas covered in hairs to aid them in holding prey while others have forelegs comparable to the praying mantis which help them hold and catch prey. 

   A final fact in relation to appearance I thought was really cool is that nymphs cover and camoflage themselves with debris and remains of dead prey insects. 

   These images are of the Pale Green Assassin bug again and I think they show that long legged, narrow neck description quite well. These are all different subjects. They're pretty common where I live!

   A good example of the other type of assassin is this guy. I don't have a species but it is in the genus Phymata and is called a jagged assassin bug. I think these photos highlight those mantis-like arms.

   Their most distinctive feature doesn't have to do with their appearance as much as what they're able to do. It's called stridulation. The tip of their proboscis fits into a ridged groove in their prosternum which is the underside of their first body segment. When they rub against these grooves they can create sound which is mainly used to deter predators.

   Whether you're a human or a predator, you're going to want to handle larger specimens carefully because they defend themselves with their proboscis, which can be extremely painful and at times medically significant. Ask Joe, we're pretty sure a pale green assassin bug bit him one time! He didn't need medical attention but it did hurt.

   The effects of a bite in their prey is interesting because it either injects venom or digestive juices. They have lethal saliva that liquifies the insides of prey which are then sucked out. This is called extraoral digestion and it's very effective seeing that it's common for them to kill prey much larger than themselves.

   Earlier we mentioned that most Reduviidae are predators. What about those that aren't? They're mostly haematophagus which means they feed on blood. It's thought that this trait evolved because they lived in mammal's nests. In my opinion, the scariest ones are the kissing bugs which are in the subfamily Triatominae. They bite humans on the soft skin around their eyes and mouth while they sleep. They have the potential to transmit a fatal disease called trypanosomial Chagas disease. This results in the deaths of 12,000 people a year! 

   There are some scary bugs in this family that really live up to their assassin name! My favorites aren't harmful to humans, thankfully. I'm going to make sure to steer far away from those kissing bugs though! Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll talk to you next time! 

Yours, 

Jade

UPDATE: A New Friend

   Hello again! Our friend Least Lithobius (Lithobius microps) is doing better than I'd hoped! This time, I'm sure that's what he is because I got it confirmed on iNat shortly after uploading the last blog post about him. I wanted to give an update because it's been about two weeks since Joe brought him home and I thought I'd let you know how it's been going.

   I never thought I'd have a pet centipede, even just until Spring thaw so he can return to the outside. I've affectionately named him Cinder because of his reddish orange coloration. This is new from last post. Before, I didn't know him very well. Now, as I see glimpses into his life I find myself having a kinship with the little guy.

   I didn't know what we were going to do for a food source. He's a predator. It's cold here in the winter with no pet stores nearby. Where was I supposed to find bugs? Answer: Not bugs but worms. The store I work at sells worms for ice fishing so I grabbed a container of them. I give him a new worm or two every few days and he's still moving around so I think he's at least content with his worm buffet. 

   I put some soil from the worm container in a Tupperware container with some leaves for hiding. I wanted to give him a rock to hide under but I can't go far with the baby and all the nearby rocks are under feet of snow. His setup should do nicely until thaw.

   We have a routine. Every morning before I get ready for work I check on Cinder. I attempt to take pictures but he just moves so fast! I'll include some of the best ones though. I've gotten a few videos too which I uploaded to my TikTok. Then, I make sure his habitat is damp enough and add a little water if needed. Finally, I feed him if he needs it and close the cover loosely. This helps not scare him as much when I invade his space to feed or photograph him. 

    I'm really thinking we can make this work until Spring! Then, with a heavy heart, I'll release Cinder into the wild. I'll be sure to take a video of his departure. Until then, here are the best photos I've captured of our tiny friend. Until next time! 

Yours, 

Jade

Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

    Hello, happy March everyone! One month closer to spring. While everyone else seems to be thawing out, it's still pretty cold here. Winter seems to hang on as long as it can up here but that's okay. It makes Spring all the more exciting! Today, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite plants: Impatiens capensis. It goes by many lay names but Spotted jewelweed is my favorite. 

Note: This is a photo of Spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). It's very common where we live! 

   I was going to do a writeup on the Family but for once, there's more information on the individual than the Family itself. Impatiens capensis is in the Balsaminaceae Family. I was surprised to find out that my jewelweed friend is the only member of this family I have recorded! I think that's pretty neat. It's native to North America although it was transported in the 19th and 20th centuries to England, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and possibly other areas of northern and central Europe. They prefer bottomland soils, ditches, and life near creeks. I usually find them near the river and streams where I live.

   As I mentioned before this plant goes by many names: common jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, orange jewelweed, spotted touch-me-not, and orange balsam. I prefer spotted jewelweed because I love it for its orange color and spotted pattern. Fun fact about me: I hate it when they call anything "common _____". I feel like it takes away the plant/creature's individuality. But anyway, on to our description! 

   Jewelweed grows anywhere from 3-5 feet tall. The leaves are alternate on the upper stems and opposite on the lower stems, if there are any leaves at all. The leaves can be more of an oval shape or eclipse shape depending on the individual but all are simple, and have shallow rounded teeth on the end of each. 

Note: Here is a photo of the leaves! See the teeth? Also pictured is what I think is a flower bud beginning to form. I also included a photo of the stems in case anyone was interested in that too! 

    I learned a possible reason for the name jewelweed! Apparently when you hold the leaves underwater they appear silver or jeweled. Another possible reason could be the bright coloration and shape of the kernels of the projectile seeds.

    Their seeds are probably the coolest part, at least to me. The seed pods have five valves which coil back rapidly to eject the seeds! It's called explosive dehiscence. It's also why they're called touch-me-nots. I've done it more than once. Touch the flower at the right time and POP! there go the seeds! It's a little thing but something I feel happy to have experienced.

   The flowers are 2-3cm long and range in color from yellow to orange. Something I learned from my research is that they can also produce what are called cleistogamous flowers which don't need to be cross-pollinated. They are less showy than the bright flowers that the pollinators get their nectar from. Plus, the absence of needing cross-pollination means that the plant can self-pollinate if it needs to.

Note: Here's a photo of the flower itself! I adore the colors and spots and don't have to look too hard to find them each year due to their brightness.

   They have a structure inside their flowers called nectar spurs which usually have nectar. Their angle, which can range from 0-270°, is very important for their pollinators. In fact, hummingbirds are one of their biggest pollinators and it's been noted that they gather more nectar from curved spurs than perpendicular ones! Bees are also very important pollinators. I see them every year and I especially love it because you just see the flower with a little bee butt poking out! 

Note: This is an image of those spurs, I'm pretty sure. I had always wondered their purpose and today I found out! 

   Finally, there are a few different uses for this plant. The young shoots can be boiled but you have to change the water twice. They are referred to as potherbs, which is something I'd never heard of before. Leaf vegetables that can be eaten raw are often called salad greens. On the other hand, leaf vegetables that need to be cooked first are called potherbs! Don't eat too much though. They contain calcium oxalate crystals. In large doses it can produce sores and numbing on ingestion and may even be fatal. You can also eat the seeds, preferably before they explode!

   The juice of the leaves and stems is a traditional Native American remedy for skin rashes (including poison ivy). This is an extra fun fact because they usually grow near poison ivy! It's believed that it's the saponins that help with the rash. You should test it first though because some people are sensitive to jewelweed and it can actually make the rash worse. You can also use the juice as a fungicide!

    It was a lot of fun learning new things about a plant I see every single year. It's a Fall plant but I still look forward to it all year. Its vibrant coloration and spots, seed explosion feature, and common sightings make it one of my favorite plants to see! As always I hope you learned something and had a good time doing so. Until next time!

Yours,

Jade 

   

   

A New Friend

   Hi again! I wasn't planning to write again until March but something came up, or rather something was caught! 

   My partner was doing his normal duties at work, sweeping and whatnot when another coworker came upon a centipede. They were going to kill him but Joe swooped in to rescue him, knowing I would want to see it. I'm happy that he did because he didn't deserve to die. He's such a beautiful creature although I will admit the way he moves freaks me out a little bit.

Note: This is a stone centipede. I haven't gotten in confirmed yet but I'm 90 percent sure it's Least Lithobius (Lithobius microps). They're very common in my area. 

   This is going to be a shorter post as I don't usually cover individuals because there tends to be less information when you get so specific. Regardless, I couldn't help but share this find so here's what I found on our friend. 

   Our stone centipede is in the family Lithobiidae. They tend to be quite small growing to about 1-2inches. It's red or orange in color depending on the individual. They have small poison claws on either side of its head. 

Note: Here is a photo of his head and those poison claws! His poison isn't harmful to humans but I bet a bite would still hurt!

   This species is the most commonly found centipede in my region, the Northeastern part of the United States. It also lives in England and South Wales and has been introduced to Tasmania.

   Stone centipedes like to hide in wood, under stones and rocks, in soil, and under small buildings. They're most common in gardens in dead or decaying wood, beneath stones and rocks, or under sheds. They are opportunistic carnivores preying on insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. They also dig burrows to hibernate through the winter months. They're fast so they're hard to catch and handle. Regardless, I want to try to give him a chance at life. I don't see centipedes very often. I guess I haven't been looking under enough logs and rocks! That makes taking care of him all the more interesting and fun. 

   Sending him back outside right now would be a death sentence. I don't have a food source right now which worries me. I've set him up in a Tupperware container with a couple holes poked in the top. It has a damp paper towel at the bottom for moisture and some leaf litter left over from the Fall. From what I've read, this should do. Like I mentioned above, the only thing I'm missing is a food source. Bugs are hard to come by in these cold winter months.

I hope we can keep him safe and healthy until its safe and to bring him outside again. I've already enjoyed watching him run around and clean his antennae. I don't know if we'll see him much now that he has places to hide but he's still swell to have around.

Note: Here's a picture of him cleaning his antennae. It was super cute. I have a video of it too.

As always, I hope you learned something! I also hope more people choose to relocate bugs (and myriapods) instead of killing them. They're actually helpful little predators who are harmless to humans. Until next time! 

Yours, 

Jade

Anatidae: Ducks, Swans, and Geese

   One of my son's favorite books right now is The Ugly Duckling. He's 8 months old and has recently taken to touching the swans when they appear in the later parts of the book. This interest inspired me to do a post on their family: Anatidae. The format of this one will be more general facts about the family as a whole then I'll dive into the species of ducks and geese I've seen. Unfortunately, I've never seen a swan in real life but maybe this year will be my year! Let's get into it.

   Anatidae is the family that consists of ducks, geese, and swans. This family has a cosmopolitan distribution which means they're found on every continent except for Antarctica. There are about 174 species. 

   Members of this family are herbivores and what they eat specifically differs between species. I didn't know there were different ways that ducks feed. The types I have catalogued are divers which is pretty self explanatory and dabbling ducks which feed at the surface of the water. Geese, unlike ducks, primarly feed on land.

   Ducks, geese, and swans are medium to large sized depending on the species. Diving species differ a bit because they tend to be rounder. That fact is relevant because most of the ducks I've seen are of the diving variety. Their wings are short and pointed with strong muscles to help them with flying long stretches for migration. Many species migrate thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds so they need all the muscle they can get! Their feathers are essentially waterproof thanks to oils they secrete. They tend to have long necks and webbed feet, set farther back on their bodies. This is why they're excellent swimmers but waddle on land. 

    Many ducks display sexual dimorphism, which I touched upon in one of my first posts to the blog. It just means that the males tend to be more brightly colored while the females are more muted. Swans and geese do not have sexual dimorphism.

   They are very loud birds! They have an array of noises including honks, quacks, squeaks and trumpets. Depending on the species, the females have a deeper voice than the males. I couldn't find why but I assume its so the females can hear the males better during their mating rituals.

    The anatids are generally seasonal and monogamous, meaning they only have one partner. How monogamous depends on the species! Many ducks bond for a single season while larger birds like swans and geese keep their partner for years, sometimes even for life. It was interesting to learn that most species are only equipped to mate on the water.

    Their nests are made essentially from whatever they find that they think will be useful. Many species pluck some of the mother duck's downy feathers to add as well. Mothers are usually the ones to watch over the eggs. Young ducks are quite mobile and can feed themselves quite quickly after hatching.

   The first anatid I want to touch on is probably the most common, the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). This is the only dabbling duck I've recorded. All the others are of the diving variety. They eat a variety of things and are known to be omnivores. Males have green heads while females are brown. Both sexes have a band called a speculum. They are monogamous breeders. 

Note: These are my photos of the mallards at the park about an hour or so away from our home. Aren't they beautiful? You can see the sexual dimorphism, speculum, and a group of them sleeping together. 

   They have a wide range and occupy both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Northern birds migrate south to escape the cold winters. They can live in a variety of habitats from the Arctic tundra to the subtropics. Mallards can be found in both fresh and salt water and they tend to be attracted to less deep water with aquatic vegetation.

   The next few species I want to touch on are all of the diving sort. I'm practicing my bird photography so bear with me but I think I got some decent photos. 

   We'll start with the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). They're already different than the mallards because they are diving ducks and they eat fish, although they also consume vegetation. Most studies report that its diet is usually dominated by fish (44–81%). It also feeds on aquatic insects (13–20%) and other aquatic invertebrates such as crabs and crayfish (22 to 50%).  They are also sexually dimorphic although I was only able to catch a photo of the male.

Note: Here are a couple photos of the male we saw. He was at the same park that the mallards were, just at the other end of the lake.

   They live on small bodies of water like lakes and ponds but also occupy wetlands, impoundments, flooded timber, and rivers. They prefer freshwater. They are monogamous and the females make nests in dead trees or artificial nest boxes.

   Next up the Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula). They are aggressive and territorial ducks. Year round, about 32% of their prey is crustaceans, 28% is aquatic insects, and 10% is mollusks. I found it interesting that they eat more insects while nesting and more crustaceans during migration and winter. I'm sure that has something to do with needing more energy for migration.

Note: Below are a couple pictures of what I think is one male and two females floating along the river near my home. We were out looking for plants that day and stumbled upon the birds just floating on by.

   They're found in lakes and rivers across Canada, the Northern United States, Scotland, Scandinavia, the Baltic Seas, and Northern Russia. They come to places similar to where I live to breed then winter in protected coastal waters or open inland waters in more temperate areas. 

   They nest in large cavities in trees which they return to each year but they will also use nest boxes. As you can see in the photos above, like the other ducks, they are also sexually dimorphic.

   The final diving duck on our list is the ring necked duck (Aythya collaris). Like Mallards, they are omnivores. I think it's pretty cool to note that their diet changes as they age. Ducklings are dependent on insects, earthworms, leeches, midges and snails. Mature birds change to submerged plants and emergents like annual rice and snails.

    I'm happy to report I captured a photo of both the male and female who also exhibit sexual dimorphism. I think they were a mating pair but I'm not completely sure. 

Note: The first photo is of the male and the second set of photos are of the female.

Their breeding habitat is wooded lakes or ponds in Canada and the Northern United States. I saw them on the same lake as the Mallards and Merganser. It's a hotspot for anatids, apparently!

   During breeding the pairs only stay together for reproduction before parting ways which makes them different from all our other duck species we've touched upon today. Their nests are bowl shaped and on the water in dense vegetation with sedges and woody plants.

   Our final anatid is the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) which I've always mistaken as the Canadian Goose. It's native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America but has been introduced in many places including the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. 

   They are herbivores and are often found on or near the water. They eat grasses and grains on land and aquatic plants while in the water.

   Canada geese are pretty skilled at living in human altered areas and establish breeding colonies in urban habitats. This arrangement provides them food and protects them from predators. Some people see them as pests but it's partially the fault of people who feed them. 

   These geese breed in Canada and the northern United States in a wide range of habitats, including a few places around town where we see them often.

   I miss them in the winter and feel happy when I see they've returned in the Spring. The calls overhead from large groups of Canada geese flying in a V-shaped formation signal the transitions into spring and autumn and it always makes me smile when I hear them. 

   They're monogamous and most pairs mate for life! Their nests are usually in elevated areas near water. Both parents protect the young as you would know if you've ever gotten to close to them.

Note: Below are some photos of a breeding pair in our area. We were out there looking for insects or plants, I can't remember which, and we happened upon this couple. We didn't bother them long but they allowed us a few pictures as long as we gave them their space. We watched as the male foraged and the female sat in the grass nearby. 

   I debated doing each duck/goose seperately but decided in the end to do them all in the same post. If you want to know more about any of them, let me know and maybe I'd be able to help. There was so much information I couldn't put for each of them! As always, I hope you learned something and enjoyed reading about these beautiful birds!

Yours, 

Jade

Trifolium: Clover/Trefoils

   Hello again! I'm trying to be better about posting at least once a month. This time, we'll take a break from bugs! I wanted to focus on a type of plant that I have a few different species recorded: clovers. I love to see them and can identify them pretty quickly now! I love them most because of their flower structure and soft colors. Let's get into it!

   Clovers, also called trefoils, are in the genus Trifolium. The name comes from the Latin 'tres' which means three and 'folium' which means leaf. They originated in Europe but now have a cosmopolitan distribution which means its range extends almost all over the world!

Their diversity is greatest in the Northern Hemisphere but there are also plenty of species that occur in other places. There are about 300 species.

   They are small plants, usually growing to about a foot tall. Their leaves are trifoliate which means they come in threes. Their flowers are dense spikes of small red, purple, white, or yellow flowers.

Note: Pictured above is perhaps my favorite clover! It goes by many common names but rabbitfoot clover (Trifolium arvense) is my favorite! They're so fluffy! I added the leaves to show off their trifoliate nature.

   There are many uses for clover and a big part of that is cultivation for fodder. Fodder is plants that are used to feed livestock.

Note: The most widely cultivated clovers are red clover, (Trifolium pratense) which I have a photo of and white clover (Trifolium repens). Look at those gorgeous leaves!

   Here are some of the reasons farmers use it so much: because it always returns after it's mowed, it's abundant, livestock enjoy eating it, it fixes nitrogen in its roots using symbiotic bacteria which eliminates the need for chemically fertilizers, and it grows just about anywhere. Fun fact, did you know that increased soil nitrogen levels from the widespread use of clover was one of the main reasons why European agricultural production in 1880 was about 275% of the production in 1750? That's a crazy percentage! 

   Many animals love it, including us! Bears, game animals, ruminants (like deer and cows), and birds forage for and eat clover. Humans eat it as well whether its blossoms are used for tea, its seeds for bread, or how the Native Americans eat it both raw and cooked after drying and smoking the roots. Though you shouldn't eat it if you're pregnant.

   When I was young, I think I was a weird kid who was outside a lot. I found myself eating things that maybe I shouldn't have been eating. But, one of them was red clover! I remember them tasting sweet and I'd always look for them.

   Pollinators also enjoy clover! The plant attracts bumblebees, honeybees, and other pollinators. It caused honey production to rise drastically in areas it was used and remained the main nectar source for bees until the mid-twentieth century.

Note: Another clover I found is called crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum). Incarnatum means blood red! I'm including the leaves to show how varied they can be even though every species only has three leaves.

   I wanted to touch on their symbolism because many people know it but it's still fun to talk about! Shamrock, the traditional Irish symbol, is commonly associated with clover! I have some Irish ancestry so this is a particularly fun tidbit for me. They're also seen as lucky!

Note: Before I end with some fun facts I found I wanted to share my last clover. It's called field clover (Trifolium campestre). Campestre means of the fields! It's native to Europe and western Asia but we see a lot of it here.

   Did you know the record for most leaflets on a clover is 63? It was set on August 2, 2023 by Yoshiharu Watanabe in Japan.  Apparently a common thing to say is "to be (or to live) in clover" and it means to live a carefree life of ease, comfort, or prosperity. Another common saying is in surgery when speaking of the appearance of wound after hemorrhoidectomy: "If it looks like clover, the trouble is over; if it looks like dahlia, it’s surely a failure". It was fun to learn these because I only knew about the Irish luck side of clovers!

As always, I hoped you learned something! I want to write more about animals and plants too although I still want to talk about bugs. Until next time!

Yours, 

Jade

Coccinellidae: Lady Beetles

   Hello again! Hopefully I'm back to posting somewhat regularly! It's still very much too cold to see much of anything outside up here right now but I just got another confirmation on iNaturalist which brings my count of lady beetles to 3!

   You've probably heard of the members of Coccinellidae referred to as lady bugs. Entomologists now use ladybird beetle/lady beetle now to avoid confusion with true bugs which lady beetles are not.

I wanted to take a minute to talk about the name because there was a surprising amount of information on it.

   Coccinellidae is derived from the Latin word coccineus meaning scarlet. The lady in both lady beetle (USA) and ladybird (Britain) refers to mother Mary. As such, in Britain they became known as "Our Lady's Birds". Mary was often depicted wearing a red cloak in early art and the seven spots of the species Coccinella septempunctata (the most common in Europe) were meant to represent her seven joys and seven sorrows. That was the most information I've read on a name since starting this blog, interesting!

As you know if you've come across one, they are oval beetles with a domed back and flat belly. Many species have coloration that warn predators that they taste bad (conspicuous aposematic) such as red with black spots or stripes. Some species have stripes or checkered patterns!

Note: Pictured above is the American Three-Banded Lady Beetle (Coccinella trifasciata perplexa). It's the only one I've seen personally that had bands instead of spots!

   Spots vary in size, shape, and number. As mentioned above coloration is usually a warning but some species use it for camouflage or even to regulate heat.             Furthermore, several species may have polymorphism and change color between seasons! I was astounded that there was so much to learn about a beetle that I see all the time in the warm months.

   Adult females tend to be a little larger than the males. All have large compound eyes and clubbed antennae with seven to eleven segments. I'm just recently learning how many types of insects can be identified by how many segments their antennae have! They also have powerful mandibles which have pairs of "teeth" that face each other.

   Another intriguing thing about them is the way they defend themselves. A 2015 study of five ladybird species found that their color honestly signalled their toxicity which means they weren't just pretending, their warning is pretty trustworthy! They also found that species that stand out from their environment more were the ones that were usually the more toxic.

   How are they toxic? Turns out their blood contain a bunch of chemicals and alkaloids that make them toxic and stinky. Coccinellids can produce at least 50 types of alkaloids! You won't have to tell me twice not to take a bite of one of these little ladies.

   They also do something I've never heard of before: reflex bleeding. Before they're even harmed they exude drops from their knee joints that give predators a sneak peek of their toxic and bitter fluids. This is really important for their pupa which cannot move but helpful for all stages.

Note: This is a pupa of the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis).

   Did you know that Coccinellidae are found on every continent except Antarctica? There are more than 6,000 described species and are found in many different habitats. They can live both on the ground and in trees. Some specialize on certain plants depending on their diet. Some even live in extreme environments like high mountains, deserts, and cold regions.

   I never knew such small creatures migrated but they sure can! Depending on the conditions where they live, they migrate long distances to hibernation and breeding sites. They even have been thought to be drawn to recognizable landmarks! Temperate species hibernate or undergo a period of suspended development over the winter while tropical species are dormant during the dry season. If a location is too crowded some will leave but they stay as long as there are enough prey species to feed on.

Most coccinellid species are carnivorous predators. They usually eat aphids and scale insects but other species are known to eat plants and fungi!

Note: Pictured above is the Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata). It is not a predator. Instead, it eats powdery mildew on crops like pumpkin and zucchini.

   Aphid-eaters tend to be more generalist in nature because of their insatiable appetite. They can also multiply quickly and switch to other prey when their aphids become scarce. Predators of scale insects on the other hand tend to be less voracious and are slower breeders and take their time with development.

One thing that predators of aphids have to worry about that predators of scale insects don't are ants! Ants tend to use aphids for their honeydew, kind of like how we use cows for milk, so the ants protect them and dispose of coccinellid eggs near their nests.

   Speaking of eggs, many predatory species lay their eggs near colonies of prey so their babies have a food source when they emerge. Eggs tend to be bright yellow and close together. The number of eggs is dependent on species and ranges anywhere from tens to thousands in their lifetimes.

   After the larvae hatch they immediately start eating, that includes their siblings that haven't hatched yet! Some species combat this by laying infertile eggs with the fertile ones in hopes that those will get eaten instead.

Note: I'm unsure of the species of this one but it is definitely a lady beetle larvae. Seek seems to think it's Harmonia so I really wouldn't be surprised if it was the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) as there are many in my area.

   Coccinellids are promiscuous breeders which means they reproduce in the spring and summer in temperate regions and during the wet season in tropical regions. In some species females seem to choose their partners based on size and color preferences. Did you know insects can get sexually transmitted infections? I didn't! Apparently the coccinellids are so promiscuous that they are often infected, yikes!

   There are apparently many uses for coccinellids going all the way back to 1814 in England in pest control! Because of this, many species have been introduced outside their normal range and are considered beneficial insects! Scale insect-eating coccinellids have been more successful than aphid predators. Out of 155 deliberate introductions for aphid control in the year 2000, only one was deemed to be "substantially successful". This abysmal score is because they're so fast breeding, eat so much, and easily switch prey which makes them hard to control.

   Unfortunately they are also pests. Some species are known to swarm into buildings from nearby fields and forests. Once in the summer of 1976 in the UK, after an unusually long period of hot and dry weather, an increase in aphid population was followed by a "plague" of the native Coccinella septempunctata. There were many reports of people being bitten as the elusive aphids began to dwindle. A not so fun fact also tells us that as few as 1.3 to 1.5 coccinellids per 2.2lbs of grapes can affect wine quality.

   There are many threats to coccinellids today: climate change, agriculture, urbanization, and invasive species.

Note: This is the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) and it's invasive where I live in North America. They outcompete the native species and eat their eggs to the point that if you see a lady beetle, it's probably one of these.

   Their biodiversity will be affected by rising temperatures and heat fluctuations. Climate change might also lead to smaller larvae and require more energy, metabolic needs, and interspecies predation as prey are affected. Agriculture and urbanization threaten them because of habitat loss and pesticide use. 

   Conservationists in the IUCN SSC Ladybird Specialist Group have suggested several measures for protecting them including citizen science and education programs, habitat preservation and restoration, prevention of the spread of invasive species, and a global monitoring program.

   This has become quite the lengthy post, maybe the longest one yet! But, there was so much information and I didn't want to leave any of the interesting stuff out. I have one more section I'd like to address: their role in culture.

    They're associated with luck, love, fertility, and prophecy. They've been said to predict the future, particularly weather conditions and how crops will do in a given year. In Christianity, coccinellids have been called literal gatekeepers of Heaven. The Swedish name for them, Himmelska nycla, means Keys of Heaven. Jews have called them Cow of Moses Our Teacher. The Cherokee believe them to be the "Great Beloved Woman". This was because of their highest ranking woman in their government who would be painted in the lady beetle colors and patterns for ceremonies! Finally, ladybird is an affectionate term for a loved one!

   As always, I hope you learned a lot because I sure did! I've always loved lady beetles. I used to see them when I was little in my mom's old house. They liked to hang out on the windowsills, I have a vague memory of one biting me and me being scared of them for a time. No need to fear them though! They can be pests but I think they're mostly beneficial. I always smile when I see one. Until next time.

Yours,

Jade