Snug as a (lady)bug

This cute little one was scuttling around on some berries and fallen leaves out in Norfolk. With its polka-dotted elytra (shell cover), it's clear that this is a ladybug. On a very warm day I spotted this insect so that wintry chill hasn't happened yet.

Here's more details about Ladybugs:

–they love eating other critters like aphids, fruit flies, mites, and thrips

–different varieties come in orange, yellow, or even solid black

–some like to snuggle up in warm places like logs, snow, and man-made dwellings like homes

–a toxic chemical is released from their legs in case a predator was entranced by its beautiful outer shell

–many cultures regard them as a sign of good luck for marriage, health, and harvesting

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

Daw, Sonya. “Ladybug.” US National Park Service, July 2020, www.nps.gov/articles/000/ladybug.htm.

“Ladybug.” San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants, 2023, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ladybug.