Pick one up sometime.  They emit a defensive chemical assault (like many
beetles), which I believe in their case is derived from the aphids they eat.
The aphids get this from the plant juices they intake.  I don't imagine a
bird would find this appealing!

Jay Keller
Arlington, VA


----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Haury" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 6:30 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Ladybugs Galore!


> Take a look at <http://www.mdc.mo.gov/news/1998/bugs.html> for information
about Ladybug swarming.
>
> Al Haury
> Oakland, Maine
>
> =====================
> From: Gerald & Laura Tarbell <>
> Date: 2006/10/18 Wed PM 04:12:51 CDT
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Ladybugs Galore!
>
> Would somebody enlighten me regarding the life history of the local
ladybug?
> This afternoon our whole block looked like a scene from Hitchcock's "The
> Birds", only from ladybugs.  I've never seen them swarming like this
before!
> Is this the mating season?
> Another thing I noticed was that they were aloft with no apparent interest
> from birds.  Not one winged predator around for the hour or so I watched.
> Are ladybugs distasteful to birds?
> ________________________________________________________
>
>
> And please enlighten me, too. I seem to get them all over the front (never
> the back) of my house every fall about this time and today they are here
in
> force. They can find their way in around the slightest crack in the door
or
> windows and I have to let them back out. Are they migrating somewhere?
There
> are several Rhinoceros Beetles, too. Do they eat them?
>     Jerry Tarbell
>     Carroll County
>
>
> Al Haury
> 207-465-7236
> Oakland, Maine
>