Ladybug invasion of the Boulder foothills! :) - WhiteBlaze

Mags · 10-18-2009, 18:55

From my hike today...

nox2825 · 10-18-2009, 19:14

WOW! I have never seen that before. I probably only see a few dozen in a year. Thats nuts, I'm glad you made it out of there before they ganged up on you and stole your lunch.

Rocket Jones · 10-19-2009, 05:17

Vicious little beasties. If they were the size of a dog, we would be prey.

grayfox · 10-19-2009, 11:35

Great photo Mags. I have seen these 'beetle conventions' many times--usually at altitude out west and in the Black Hills in the fall. I would like to know what they are doing-keeping warm? mating? and how they find each other over what must be a large area since I hardly ever see more than one or two at a time otherwise. I hope there is a bug knowledgable person here to enlighten us.

Mags · 10-19-2009, 11:42

It does look like something from a 1950s SciFi movie..doesn't it?

garlic08 · 10-19-2009, 17:40

I remember seeing those on the Flatiron summits, too, when I lived there in the 80s. I heard they are not true ladybugs, though. They're orange, not red, and their wings are a little different. Great day in the foothills, though. I heard it reached the 80s there yesterday.

Mags · 10-19-2009, 18:46

Awesome day to be hiking sure!

I heard that comment from other people (about them not being "real" ladybugs).

Looks like it is an "Asian Lady Beetle" ; a related invasive species released ~100 yrs ago to control aphids. Not as bad as say, tamarisk, it is more of a nuisance than anything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entom...001/mannix.htm

10-18-2009, 18:55	#1
Mags Hiker Trash Join Date: 03-15-2004 Location: Boulder, CO Age: 36 Year of thru-hike: Job 1:7 Posts: 7,188	Ladybug invasion of the Boulder foothills! :) From my hike today... __________________ The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched --Thoreau http://www.pmags.com http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/

10-19-2009, 11:42	#5
Mags Hiker Trash Join Date: 03-15-2004 Location: Boulder, CO Age: 36 Year of thru-hike: Job 1:7 Posts: 7,188	It does look like something from a 1950s SciFi movie..doesn't it? __________________ The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched --Thoreau http://www.pmags.com http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/

10-19-2009, 17:40	#6
garlic08 Garlic Join Date: 10-15-2008 Location: Prescott, AZ View my gallery 2 My trailjournals.com My journals Age: 53 Year of thru-hike: AT'08,PCT,CDT,AZT,CT,WT Posts: 1,867 Images: 2	I remember seeing those on the Flatiron summits, too, when I lived there in the 80s. I heard they are not true ladybugs, though. They're orange, not red, and their wings are a little different. Great day in the foothills, though. I heard it reached the 80s there yesterday. __________________ "Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning

10-19-2009, 18:46	#7
Mags Hiker Trash Join Date: 03-15-2004 Location: Boulder, CO Age: 36 Year of thru-hike: Job 1:7 Posts: 7,188	Awesome day to be hiking sure! I heard that comment from other people (about them not being "real" ladybugs). Looks like it is an "Asian Lady Beetle" ; a related invasive species released ~100 yrs ago to control aphids. Not as bad as say, tamarisk, it is more of a nuisance than anything. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entom...001/mannix.htm __________________ The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched --Thoreau http://www.pmags.com http://www.redbubble.com/people/pmags/

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10-18-2009, 19:14	#2
nox2825 Join Date: 07-28-2009 Location: boyertown, Pa View my gallery 14 Age: 30 Posts: 198 Images: 14	WOW! I have never seen that before. I probably only see a few dozen in a year. Thats nuts, I'm glad you made it out of there before they ganged up on you and stole your lunch.

10-19-2009, 05:17	#3
Rocket Jones Registered User Join Date: 07-30-2009 Location: Woodbridge, Virginia Age: 50 Posts: 398	Vicious little beasties. If they were the size of a dog, we would be prey.

10-19-2009, 11:35	#4
grayfox Registered User Join Date: 08-02-2008 Location: prairie du chien, WI Age: 60 Posts: 122	Great photo Mags. I have seen these 'beetle conventions' many times--usually at altitude out west and in the Black Hills in the fall. I would like to know what they are doing-keeping warm? mating? and how they find each other over what must be a large area since I hardly ever see more than one or two at a time otherwise. I hope there is a bug knowledgable person here to enlighten us.