Love Bugs

41 responses to “Love Bugs”

1. 

   !MimosaMicheMichelle!

   Dec 10, 2008 at 2:42 am

   Oh!!! This is Woodstock for ladybugs!

   Reply
2. 

   jurvetson

   Dec 10, 2008 at 2:43 am

   Doh. Of course!

   Reply
3. 

   !MimosaMicheMichelle!

   Dec 10, 2008 at 2:44 am

   Yeah, a Love-In!

   Actually, it reminds me of aunts that created a huge tower (or building) that I vaguely recall seeing about on television.

   Reply
4. 

   Zoey Duncan

   Dec 10, 2008 at 2:56 am

   wow! I’ve never seen anything like that…if it weren’t ladybugs it would horrify me, but great capture!

   Reply
5. 

   jurvetson

   Dec 10, 2008 at 3:03 am

   Heh, heh, heh….

   

   Reply
6. 

   TomiTapio

   Dec 10, 2008 at 3:50 am

   Maybe they’ve gone mad with pheromones/hormones. A flaw in their algorithm.

   Reply
7. 

   chiaolun

   Dec 10, 2008 at 4:00 am

   Apparently it’s for overwintering:
   http://www.danesphoto.com/ladybugs2.html

   Reply
8. 

   avlxyz

   Dec 10, 2008 at 4:33 am

   some of them lost their spots 😛

   Reply
9. 

   kirainet

   Dec 10, 2008 at 5:22 am

   wow! No idea why they gather, I’ve always though ladybirds were solitary bugs 🙂

   Reply
10. 

    jurvetson

    Dec 10, 2008 at 5:32 am

    Oh, no… they get psychotic in small groups…

    

    Reply
11. 

    kirainet

    Dec 10, 2008 at 6:17 am

    hahaha! you have an awesome collection of bug pictures.

    Reply
12. 

    Gerardo Aguilar

    Dec 10, 2008 at 6:51 am

    nice pic, the colors are very intense.

    Reply
13. 

    Jef Poskanzer

    Dec 10, 2008 at 8:25 am

    Nice. I found a pile like this in Tilden Park a couple years ago, I should go look and see if they are back this year.

    Reply
14. 

    heet_myser

    Dec 10, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    It’s got a Seussian quality to it.

    Reply
15. 

    Vanita

    Dec 10, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    Sir, those are no "ladies"!
    ‘-}

    Reply
16. 

    Todd Huffman

    Dec 10, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Hibernatin’?

    Reply
17. 

    The Sage of Shadowdale

    Dec 10, 2008 at 10:10 pm

    A lady bug orgy? Hmmm…changes my whole perspective on the little fellas.
    —
    Seen on your photo stream. (?)

    Reply
18. 

    Leino88

    Dec 10, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    gregarious for over-wintering.
    …
    one of those .."inexplicables"…like monarchs migrating to the same spot, across a continent.

    Reply
19. 

    jurvetson

    Dec 11, 2008 at 12:54 am

    Thanks! The bug man is all knowing.

    Reply
20. 

    PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE

    Dec 11, 2008 at 12:58 am

    If you ask me, They are Cloud computing =) sharing their "Bionarydots" for , as Todd suggested, simulating when is the best time to start hibernation =)

    Reply
21. 

    campviola

    Dec 11, 2008 at 1:47 am

    In my neighborhood this is what they do for the winter, it beats being alone 🙂 If they are anything like bees they will shiver to keep warm.

    Reply
22. 

    strange_wax

    Dec 11, 2008 at 2:35 am

    Cluster computation ? 😉

    Reply
23. 

    Gone-Walkabout

    Dec 11, 2008 at 3:52 am

    eww I like ladybugs, but that’s too many….plus the multitude of the stink bugs around I’m none too happy

    Reply
24. 

    angry shock

    Dec 11, 2008 at 5:27 am

    ahhh, love bugs living the vida loca…

    ain’t we all after all?

    Reply
25. 

    rodrigolab

    Dec 13, 2008 at 7:39 am

    Wow! That must have been a hell of a party.

    1-2-3

    Reply
26. 

    ©HTO3

    Dec 13, 2008 at 8:16 am

    warmth for winter

    Reply
27. 

    Georgie Sharp

    Dec 13, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Incredible1

    Reply
28. 

    markku mesterton

    Dec 13, 2008 at 9:38 am

    Extraordinary Capture! You deserve another Buzz and Bug Award as seen in our pool

    ,

    Please Tag Your Photo with BuzzNBugz

    The Buzz and Bugz Group

    Reply
29. 

    Cliff Michaels

    Dec 13, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    

    1-2-3
    Click image to read why you got this award

    Reply
30. 

    aViaTioNuT

    Dec 13, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Beautiful
    The World Through My Eyes

    Reply
31. 

    Guido Musch

    Dec 13, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Hehe that’s amazing!
    The World Through My Eyes

    Reply
32. 

    alter your reality

    Dec 13, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    this is one crazy scene!

    Reply
33. 

    daisybaxter

    Dec 14, 2008 at 1:27 am

    Extraordinary Capture! You deserve another Buzz and Bug Award as seen in our pool

    ,

    Please Tag Your Photo with BuzzNBugz

    The Buzz and Bugz Group

    Reply
34. 

    Lord V

    Dec 14, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Good one – not sure what the temperature was but they often hibernate in clusters.
    Brian v.

    Reply
35. 

    Gilles San Martin

    Dec 16, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    The species is Hippodamia convergens. As somme other ladybirds species (Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia undecimnotata,…) this one forms aggregates to pass the winter. The reason is not well known. It could be to increase the aposematic signal (we are red = don’t eat us because we are toxic) or a dilution of the predation risk (if predator eat one individual, it will be disgusted by his terrible taste and will not eat other individuals of the aggregate).

    Reply
36. 

    Brian O’Mahony Photography

    Dec 20, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Great shot!
    
    Seen in the group"One Hundred Thousand Club (100,000 Photostream Views)"(>?<)

    Reply
37. 

    marieln_l.

    Feb 19, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    What a great photo ! I had a good laugh, with the notes and all ! ! ! !

    Reply
38. 

    courtneymccolgan

    Mar 2, 2009 at 12:08 am

    Entirely inappropriate!

    Reply
39. 

    Richard.Fisher

    Oct 9, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    This photo and the others in the comments are too weird. I’m scared to look at any more of your photstream.

    … but also a little intrigued.

    … oh go on then I’ll be brave.

    Reply
40. 

    mimbrava

    Jan 10, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    Fascinating shot, and thanks, Gilles, for the scientific info.

    —
    Seen in XploreMyPix! (Must have 20 faves; see rules) (?)

    Reply
41. 

    Agatha Perez Llopis

    May 9, 2010 at 12:51 am

    😮 maravillosa!

    Reply