When you're out and about this summer, keep your eyes open for ladybugs. Cornell University's Lost Ladybug Project is logging ladybug species throughout the United States. Cornell scientists are looking for native species of ladybugs which have become increasingly rare over the past two decades. You can become part of the project by photographing your ladybug finds and sending your photos to be recorded in Cornell's database.
My children were thrilled to learn they had found two uncommon dark forms of a ladybug known as Calvia quatuordecimguttata or the cream-colored ladybug.
My children were thrilled to learn they had found two uncommon dark forms of a ladybug known as Calvia quatuordecimguttata or the cream-colored ladybug.
For more detailed information on taking part in this project visit http://www.lostladybug.org.
Thanks, Cecilia. I'll keep an eye out and a camera handy.
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce! Welcome back from vacation. Hope it wasn't too soggy. Happy lady beetle hunting. Keep me posted on what you find. - Cecilia
ReplyDeleteWe've never seen ladybugs like that! Marvelous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and thoughtful blog... Is this the same Cecilia McCarthy I knew back in High School?
ReplyDeleteRon Fink
Thanks, Ron! Glad to have you reading. I don't think I'm the same person - McCarthy is my married name. Hope to see you back. New posts coming soon.
ReplyDeleteCecilia,
ReplyDeleteI found a ladybug! I ran for the camera and snapped two photos. So proud! I had trouble sending the photos to the project though. So have to try again. And I think it was an Asian LB,but it did not exactly match the one in the field guide. I'm excited!
Hi Joyce,
ReplyDeleteAsian Lady beetles are pretty varied. Even though it's not an unusual beetle, the study is still interested in tracking the number of Asian LBs too. My daughter just found a twice stabbed lady beetle - black with a red "stab" mark on each wing cover. I had a native lady beetle land on my windshield while I was driving on the highway last week. It was pretty distracting. All I could think about was pulling off soon so I could collect it. Unfortunately, it flew off the minute the car stopped :( Happy hunting!
What a lovely blog you have. Thanks for the pictures and great information. I especially enjoyed your garden critters, I too, enjoy taking photos of bugs.
ReplyDeleteHi Sonja,
ReplyDeleteI love doing this blog and am glad to have you following. More to come...