7-spot ladybird - Return from the dead!

Bruce Williams · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 11:43 AM

Stony Stratford, Bucks. 11th March.

I thought some of you might be interested in this rather unusual view of a 7-spot ladybird turning itself right-way-up:

I came across a solitary 7-spot ladybird on an open area of fence-rail. In my experience they are normally tucked away on cracks and corners when resting/hibernating - so this seemed and looked odd. It was loose on the rail which also seemed odd - by this time I was pretty sure it was dead....possibly

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Anyway I gently flipped it over and took a few shots of the underside (see pic1). Then in the blink of an eye it had stretched its legs and flipped itself right-way-up - this process took no longer than 2 seconds max! Fortunately the camera was already focussed and ready and there was just time for the one shot (see pic2).

Bruce

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 02:40 PM

Afternoon Bruce,

I suspect as we are in March now it had been stirred by mild temperatures. I've often taken one by surprise and had it play dead in front of me, and then watched the way they come back to life too! Nice shots showing this process too.

Take care,

Jason

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 05:09 PM

I noticed one in a Lavender bush today, along with a couple of Rosemary Beetles.

Bruce Williams · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 07:21 PM

Thanks for your comments Jason and Aeshna

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This is one time where I wish I'd had the Nikon D300s (I have the older D300) and been able to video the ladybird turning itself right-way-up so that I could watch it back in slow motion to see exactly how it did it.

The whole process was so fast and....well....sort of elegant. It makes you wonder if this particular ladybird has ever had to do it before or if the species are genetically programmed to do it so quickly and easily.

Bruce