Wildlife of Henry W. Coe State Park
Banana Slug · Blackfly Larvae · California Sister · Checkerspot · Common Buckeye · Convergent Lady Beetle · Crab Spider · Darkling Beetle · Hairy Mygalomorph · Lorquin's Admiral · Milkweed Bug · Monarch · Termites · Tick · Two-tailed Swallowtail · Variable Checkerspot
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
Lady Beetles (also known as Ladybird Beetles, and more popularly as Lady Bugs)
aggregating in the winter at Upper Camp, in the canyon of the Middle Fork Coyote Creek.
February 6, 1996.
The first time you see them, you may notice reddish-orange pebbly patches covering the
ground and the rocks. Upon coming closer, you may notice that there is movement in those
patches and will be surprised to see the thousands of "lady bugs."
When the warm days of spring come, they fly out of the canyons seeking the aphids
and other plant-feeding insects which are their prey.
Detail from top photo.
Scientists do not use the name "Lady Bug" because the word "bug"
is used quite specifically for a different order of insects. These
are true beetles, with the forewings modified to serve as covers
for the hindwings. The red-orange "back" of the lady beetle is
actually a pair of wings.
Above images copyright Ó by Lee Dittmann.
Close-up of individual beetle.
Middle Fork Coyote Creek, July 1975.
Photograph copyright Ó by Dave Hildebrand.
Used with permission.
Aggregation of beetles, Soda Springs Canyon.
July 1975.
Photograph copyright Ó by Dave Hildebrand.
Used with permission.
Wildlife of Henry Coe St
ate Park
At Upper Camp.
End of February, 2004.
Photograph copyright Ó Gillian Zaharias.
Used with permission.
Henry W. Coe State Park, California
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