Canon PowerShot SD870 IS
ƒ/2.8
4.6 mm
1/30
200

…mesmerized me while Mountain biking this morning.

I would have flown by the clusters of ladybugs coating most of the branches and leaves if it were not for the medium format photographer setting up his tripod. (I have found it to be very rewarding to take a curious pause whenever I see a tripod)

When splashed with the warm sun, the love bugs start crawling all over each other. It looks like it would tickle.

As they became more energetic, a ladybug cascade tumbled down onto the trail in various states of embrace.

For the Silicon Valley folks, if you want to see them tomorrow, they are at the very bottom of the Steam Donkey trail at Skeggs.

22 responses to “Mysterious Ladies”

  1. bcg~art Avatar
    bcg~art

    I knew they swarmed at some point in summer, I did not know in winter… another contact has a similar post…

    pretty amazing. !

    Reply
  2. tonyjurvetson Avatar
    tonyjurvetson

    At first look they all seem to have random dots. Then after closer examination, several groups have exactly matching dot patterns. Brothers and sisters maybe from the same mommy? Is a male ladybug a girlyman?

    Reply
  3. rocketmavericks Avatar
    rocketmavericks

    I wonder if they have the same thermal dependencies on sugar metabolism that butterflies do? I know that a little south of you here, near natural bridges state park, Monarch Butterflies often bunch like this while the air temperature is below a certain value (66 F I think). When the sun strikes them and the temperature increases, they can metabolize sufficient sugar to expend energy to maintain flight.

    Could this be a cooperative behavior similar to flocking intended to conserve energy?

    Another interesting observation is that they appear to all be female. They are the ones with spots I think.

    Reply
  4. fotogail Avatar
    fotogail

    wonderful swarm!

    Reply
  5. Todd Huffman Avatar
    Todd Huffman

    "(I have found it to be very rewarding to take a curious pause whenever I see a tripod) "

    Excellent policy. It’s a great marker for a point worthy of attention.

    Reply
  6. born1945 Avatar
    born1945

    Great capture. There won’t be any aphids on this plant.

    Reply
  7. !MimosaMicheMichelle! Avatar
    !MimosaMicheMichelle!

    These ladies make a nice family and seem to be preparing a comfortable home.

    Bonne journée demain, Steve!

    Reply
  8. msamaclean © Avatar
    msamaclean ©

    I noticed quite a few of these ladies in the gardens, today. A good sign! These girls, (&boys), are certainly welcome to play house here!
    Nice find!

    Reply
  9. The Rocketeer Avatar
    The Rocketeer

    I’ve never seen a lot of lady bugs together at the same time like that before. I’ve seen photos like this before and it seems like every time I see them like this the photographer saw them in California. Must be something about the State of California that makes them giddy like this…

    : )

    By the way, Happy Birthday, Steve (March 1). I hope you have a great day.

    Reply
  10. TomiTapio Avatar
    TomiTapio

    Oh my, that’s a lot!

    Reply
  11. Jef Poskanzer Avatar
    Jef Poskanzer

    I’ve seen winter/spring swarms in the Sierra Nevada and the Berkeley hills. Never in summer so far.

    Reply
  12. j_silla Avatar
    j_silla

    fun, lets count the dots 🙂

    Reply
  13. zenera Avatar
    zenera

    happy ladybug day J*

    Reply
  14. TEG2 Avatar
    TEG2

    "It looks like it would tickle."

    When my kids were just toddlers I used to buy them tubs of ladybugs from OSH and let them release them in the back yard to keep the aphids off of the rose bushes. The kids would get covered with them and giggle at the sensation before the ladybugs would then move on to the plants.

    Apparently they call them "Ladybirds" in some parts of the world.
    http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_ladybirds/index.html

    Reply
  15. benjiman Avatar
    benjiman

    They LOVE that spot. I’ve come across them there year after year. Once the trail sign was completely obscured by them.

    Reply
  16. TMLizzy Irwin Avatar
    TMLizzy Irwin

    What a great find….I had no idea this even happened (and I feel like I watch nature shows all the time).

    Reply
  17. thorntm Avatar
    thorntm

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

    ,Buzz and Bugz

    Please Tag Your Photo with BuzzNBugz

    The Buzz and Bugz Group

    Reply
  18. PollyMM Avatar
    PollyMM

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

    ,Buzz and Bugz

    Please Tag Your Photo with BuzzNBugz

    The Buzz and Bugz Group

    Reply
  19. Thea M Avatar
    Thea M

    What a good tip to stop whenever we see a tripod! It is so easy to miss amazing events like this. Congratulations.

    Reply
  20. great bells Avatar
    great bells

    Hi, I’m an admin for a group called GEN-WHY massive, and we’d love to have this added to the group!

    Reply
  21. swift robin Avatar
    swift robin

    That’s amazing..

    Reply
  22. Arlene Schag Avatar
    Arlene Schag

    Wow. I wonder how such tiny creatures ever find each other.

    Reply

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