Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: ladybug

"Just" a tiny Seven-spotted Ladybug, seen in my back garden on 19 June 2014. "The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is probably our most familiar Lady Beetle, being found in gardens, parks and natural areas across the continent. It wasn't always this way though - this, large, attractive beetle was brought over in the 1950's from Europe to the eastern US to supplement the aphid-eating prowess of the native lady beetles. This hardy alien has since spread across the continent. There is concern that this alien lady beetle is causing a decline in some native lady beetle species, particularly of the once common Transverse Lady Beetle. Are the robust Seven-spots out-competing the natives, eating the eggs of the natives, spreading disease or hybridizing with natives? No one knows for sure, but it is another cautionary example of the dangers of introducing alien species. One thing that ecologically conscientious gardeners can do is to refrain from buying alien species as biological controls and purchase native ones instead." From talkaboutwildlife.ca (no longer available). "The Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetle was brought in from Europe in the hope that it would help control populations of pests like aphids. It is doubtful that it has made any real difference, but what has happened is some of our native species have suffered a decline in populations since the Seven-spotted was introduced, perhaps because the Seven-spotted outcompetes them. Two-spotted Ladybird Beetles are the ones that most often turn up in people's homes in winter. Perhaps the best solution to ensure the beetles survive is to take them to a greenhouse that uses biocontrol." www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/ladybir.. . John Acorn's book, "Ladybugs of Alberta", covers all 75 species of ladybugs found here in Alberta.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! "Just" a regular Seven-spotted Ladybug that I came across yesterday afternoon, while on an afternoon botanizing trip at the Kerfoot Ranch, NW of Cochrane (which is NW of Calgary). This was a new location for me - the Kerfoot property is on the beautiful, rolling hills that you see when driving along the Grand Valley Rd. A small group of us searched for any species of plant, moss, lichen, bird, insect, and animal that were there, and the resulting list will be given to the landowners. In the morning, a friend and I had hiked at the Perrenoud natural area, looking for anything new - and anything that was interesting and beautiful, whether flora or fauna. The spring and summer months are so busy with botanizing different areas - all so interesting, but increasingly exhausting and painful for me ... sigh. However, I go where I am able and do as much as I can - I have to do as much walking as I can, for bone density reasons and to try and keep my joints mobile. A painful process, which kind of balances out with the pure joy I get from seeing and photographing some of the things we find. Heavily cropped image, so I'm surprised it still came out quite sharp.

These Seven-spotted Ladybugs were introduced from Europe. About 400 different types of Ladybug exist in North America.

Until I saw this ladybug, I had no idea that there were yellow ladybugs and certainly not here. This is the first and only one I have ever seen.

This is the only Convergent Ladybug I have ever seen.