They're Out There

Ladybugs, aka ladybird beetles, are out there.

Walk through the garden and they're easy to find.

Last weekend we spotted one tucked in the heart of an artichoke, another climbing a nectarine tree, and still another perched on an artichoke leaf.

They're doing what they're supposed to do--eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects. 

Red on green--how beautiful is that?

If you're keen on ladybugs--and you ought to be--you'll want to check out Cornell University's Lost Ladybug Project, once confined to New York state and now a nationwide project. It all began in 2000 when Cornell researchers joined the 4-H Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners to survey ladybug populations throughout the state. Now "citizen scientists" participate in ladybug surveys across the country.

The excitement grew in 2006 when two pre-teens found a nine-spotted ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata) near their home in Virginia. This marked the first documented nine-spotted ladybug found in the eastern United States in 14 years.

The Cornell University site seeks ladybug photos--as of today, the count reached 10,661.

Last Saturday, May 19 the San Diego Botanical Garden got in the act by hosting a "Lost Ladybug Project" for Cornell. 

They posted the event on their website only to receive this note: "Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home. Your house is on fire. And your children all gone. Because it is Judgment Day..."

Only thing being judged, however, was the number of ladybugs counted...that, no doubt, drew the rapt attention of all.

Those ladybugs are out there...