Saturday, April 18, 2009

Camera Critters #54

I have a vague memory from when I was a young kid of being really afraid of a Ladybug Beetle. Don't ask me why, I just remember being afraid of them.

However, these days, I can't pass by a Ladybug Beetle without lowering my camera and snapping away. And, I have come to learn there are many different types of Ladybug Beetles. There are Seven-spotted Ladybugs, Asian Multi-colored Ladybugs, Two-spotted Ladybugs, Convergent Ladybugs and Brown Ladybug Beetles.

There are many more of these small colorful creatures and I have only photographed a small number of them. They come in a variety of colors and shapes. Some are circular, some are elongated. Some are red, others orange and spotted. I have even seen white with rose colored patch ladybugs. No matter what they look like, they are worth my time to photograph.

Below are images I have shot of ladybugs in Oregon and Texas. The one problem I have with Ladybug Beetles, is they are just as afraid of my approach as anything else is...they either start running down the plant they are on, or take to the wing before I can raise my camera. But I still manage to get shots now and then.

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle

Seven-spotted Ladybug Beetle

Spotless Ladybug Beetle

Asian Multi-colored Ladybug Beetle

Asian Multi-colored Ladybug Beetle

I can't say all my IDs are correct with these small insects, but I do know calling them Ladybug Beetles will work...unless of course, you have gotten to know these bugs as Ladybird Beetles.

I hope you enjoyed my post this week. If you would like to see more Camera Critters, just drop by the website here run by Misty Dawn and then join in the fun with an entry of your own.

24 comments:

Juliana said...

Lovely macro shots

My entry this week: in HERE. I hope that you can stop by as well. Thanks

i beati said...

Funny the things we do as children . I love them and they are different from area to area which is so strange Sandy

Adrienne Zwart said...

I love ladybugs! Great job with the macro shots--that's something I'm trying to improve.

MediMonsters said...

Great shots!! I love ladybugs.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Who could be afraid of such pretties. We call them ladybirds which is less scary. They do have a habit of hightailing it just as you a ready to snap them.

Norm said...

love those different colors, how cute they are..

Anonymous said...

Ladybug ladybug fly away ....

Snap said...

I love lady bugs. Love when I see them in the garden. Great photos. Thanks!

Misty DawnS said...

Well, I have a few things to say (I know, you're shocked).

First, I have been told that Ladybugs are good luck.

Second, Ladybugs are special to me (did you already know that?), because when I had my eye surgery as a child and almost died, my daddy got me a stuffed animal Ladybug, and I had it with me in the hospital, and I slept with it every night after that.

Third... the orange spotted things we have here that we simply call "Asian Beetles"... well, if they ARE in fact a Ladybug, they give the other Ladybugs a bad name, because they BITE, the infest your house, and they STINK!!! Just sayin'.

OK, I'm done rambling now.

Someone said...

beautiful shots! I had no idea there were so many different types!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Ash: You were really being bugged.

Reader Wil said...

You've really studied the ladybird or ladybug! I didn't know there were so many species of them! Thanks for showing!

jenn said...

I love these pictures, especially the 4th one.

Yen said...

I so love all those ladybugs photos!!! Thanks for sharing:)

Ladynred said...

Beautiful shots! As usual you are good in naming bugs and insects.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous Ladybug photos !!!

I've always liked Ladybugs. I used to see heaps of them around my house in NZ.

I'd often find them inside, as well, on any flower arrangements I had. Never sure whether they'd flown in or the kids had deposited them there! :-)

I really, really need to get a macro lens..

Dianne said...

fantastic close-ups!!

Dirkjogt said...

They're not only lovely to see but also very useful in the garden.

Smalltown RN said...

I enjoyed your post very much...love the ladybugs....you r an amazing photographer....I was looking on your sidebar and couldn't help but notice you picture of the Yellowheaded black bird....I have an abundance of birds on my property and surrounding area...I tried to photograph them in order to identify them.....but that doesn't always work....I like to consider myself an ameture birder but sometimes there I think I migh fall short.....but I keep on trying....lovely photos you have

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Lovely photos :) We call them ladybirds here. I remember on a trip to Belgium a couple of years ago, we stopped somewhere and a load of them managed to get on the bus and they were everywhere!

Maude Lynn said...

These are just gorgeous!

Island Style said...

These are really nice shots..I always loved bugs!! These are certainly the helpful ones!

Kenia Santos said...

Lady bugs are sooo cute! In Brazil they must be instinct because I haven't seen them for ages! As a child, I use to play with them on my hands... they give me great memories back. :)
I'm visiting camera critters this week to praise shots like yours. Have a nice week!

Martha said...

Great pictures, we love ladybugs, but I don't often get a chance to photograhph them! Thanks SOOO much for identifying my moth. I love the name Tersa Sphynx. I had looked at so many moth pictures, I guess I got tired before I got to the T!