Environmental News

We have come to ladybugs, ladybird beetles or (if you can stand it) Coccinellidae Family in Coleoptera (beetle) Order. House Beautiful is a fine publication, but more of use is at:

https://ladybugplanet.com/guide-to-ladybugs-varieties-habitat-diet-anatomy-and-more/

It seems correct that intentional introduction of Asian Lady Beetles has contributed to some population declines of native N Amer Coccinellidae species, but larger cause was changes in habitats to those where Asian does better.

Coccinellidae Family (having maybe 5000 species) seems odd to me in that its species are very similar in what they eat and who eats them. Other large Families within beetles are more trophically diverse. I view them all as ‘ecological equivalents’ though that could be wrong.

Imagine a beetle family with all adults of similar size, all with same yuck chemical to deter predation, and all visually advertising yuck in similar ways. This is our ‘Ladies’.

Year (ish) adult lifespans and no food where winters are serious, lead to hibernation. Ladies of any species can enter houses. I turned over a rock in Colorado high country to see a hibernaculum of Ladies underneath. Ooops. Put rock back down. Long ago.

A group of Coccinellids is called a loveliness.

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We have come to ladybugs, and that feels good. Other tempests may rage, but joy can still be found in small things here. Merry Christmas to all, I hope that joy can be found in things of all sizes.