Posts Tagged: Artemisia

Spotted Ornaments

Red ornaments on a Christmas tree?

No, ladybugs (aka ladybird beetles or lady beetles) on Artemisia.

Ladybugs are overwintering on our Artemisia (genus belonging to the daisy family, Asteracease).

When the rains come, the drops bubble up on the plants and the ladybugs alike.

It's Christmas Eve and the ladybugs are Nature's sparkling red ornaments, providing comfort, cheer and color to the holiday season.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Cool Ladybug

RED ORNAMENT? No, a ladybug, aka ladybird beetle or lady beetle, on Artemisia, a genus belonging to the daisy family, Asteraceae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bubbly Ladybug

RAIN-PELTED ladybug on Artemisia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Friday, December 24, 2010 at 6:40 PM

Comments: 0

Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey

Tags: Artemisia (2), lady beetles (17), ladybird beetles (3), ladybugs (25)

'The Ladybug Shrub'

Our Artemisia, a silvery-leafed shrub bordering our bee friendly garden, looks quite orange and black these days.

It's not for lack of water or some exotic disease. It's the ladybug (aka lady beetle) population.

If you look closely, you'll see eggs, larvae and pupae and the adults. And if you look even more closely, you'll see aphids.

The predator and the prey.

Bon appetit!

Ladybug
Ladybug

ADULT LADYBUG forages for aphids on a silvery-leafed shrub, Artemisia. A ladybug larva is at the far right. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Larval Stage

LARVAL STAGE of the ladybug. The ladybug goes through a complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa and adult. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Pupa
Pupa

PUPA of a ladybug on the silvery-leafed shrub, Artemisia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ladybug and a Pupa

ENCOUNTER--An adult ladybug encounters a pupa, the last stage before becoming an adult. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, June 14, 2010 at 5:30 PM

Comments: 0

Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey

Tags: Artemisia (2), ladybug (16), larva (2), pupa (2)