Yesterday afternoon I had a bunch outside my office window here in NW DC -
it's that time of year again, as the last generation of this year's ladybugs
or "ladybirds" are reacting to the cooler temps and looking for a warm place
- reproduction is slowed or halted by colder winter weather, when adults may
hibernate.   One of our native species, the nine-spotted ladybug beetle, is
in decline over many parts of the east, perhaps due to competition from
non-native species of Coccinellidae that have been introduced from Asia and
elsewhere.

Oh, and ladybugs are not true bugs, as they do not have sucking mouth parts.



Just thought y'all would like to know.


This concludes today's entomology lesson.


**********************
Frank Boyle
Laurel & Rohrersville, MD

**********************



"The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the
oppressed."
- Stephen Biko


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Elliot Kirschbaum
Sent: 10/27/2004 4:33 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Ladybugs

I hope this is not too far off topic. They do fly, and are a food source for
birds.

Has anyone else noticed a large number of ladybugs this afternoon? Right
now, there are hundreds of them arriving on my eleventh floor balcony at the
north end of Baltimore.

Elliot Kirschbaum
Baltimore, MD