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Ladybird Love


Ladybird Love
Photo Information
Copyright: Jannie Maritz (Jannie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 244 W: 6 N: 264] (1227)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5, Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 1:2.8-3.3 / 6-72, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/4, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Insect Mating, Coccinellidae [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-25 2:49
Viewed: 7127
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cheilomenes lunata

Immatures (different stages)
Eggs are yellow and laid in small clusters often stuck to leaves. The eggs hatch after one week. The larvae have six legs and are very mobile, but do not have wings. They are black with small orange or white markings. The larvae molt three times before pupating. Attached to leaves, stems or rocks, the pupa is orange and black. Before the wings harden, the newly emerged adult is yellow.

Habitat
Both adults and larvae live on plants frequented by aphids, including roses, oleander, milkweed and broccoli. In the winter, the adults hibernate in large groups, often in mountains at high elevations. The female beetle lays eggs only where she knows aphids are present.

Food
Both beetle larvae and adults are active predators eating only aphids and other plant eating insects, such as scales and mites.

Interesting Behaviors
As a defense, ladybug adults will fall to the ground and "play dead." They also can secrete an amber bad tasting fluid from the joints in their legs.

Predators
Larvae are eaten by lacewing larvae. Birds attempt to eat adults but because of their "bad taste" the beetles are not ingested.

Impact on the Ecosystem
Positive
Larval stage consumes large numbers of aphids. Adults also eat aphids.
Negative
Two injurious agricultural species are the squash beetle and the Mexican bean beetle which eat plants instead of other insects.

Thanx for viewing and please crit.
dew77, phlr, peter_stoeckl, ALIRIZA, wkshelton, scottevers7, cmarzano, coasties, livios, anavazao, marhowie, firelord, RII has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2006-03-25 3:32]

Hello Jannie!
Wonderful close up.It's razorsharp and crisp clear.POV,vivid colors,lighting,BG and composition are also excellent.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-03-25 3:35]

Hi Jannie,
That is a fantastic macro. : )
Wonderful details and stunning colors, all in a great POV of these two colorful ladybugs. I like the texture on the plant and its diagonal position, as it adds a lot to the composition. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1237 W: 130 N: 882] (2821)
  • [2006-03-25 4:28]

Great capture!
Very good on details!
Very good DOF!
Very good on colours!
Very nice POV!
TFS!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-03-25 4:32]

Very good macro shot Jannie, so sharp and clear. Well done - BRAVO!
Janice

Hi Jannie,
they are so beautiful, I like this moment very much, very nice lady-bugs, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Very good macro, Jannie.
DOF, POV and colours are excellent.
TFS.

hi jannie,
wonderful macro! :-)
perfect timing. just the right moment.
great colors and pov.
well seen & done,
thor.

Hi Jannie,
excellent macro of these difficult to take tiny round beetles.
Good detail, wonderful composition, very harmonical colours.
Thank you for sharing that pretty picture, sharing good feelings!
Best regards,
Peter

Hello Jannie,
Wooow.I wanna congratulate you for the fantastic shoot and excellent composition. Good colors, POV, framing and detail you have caught.Well done ...
Ali Rıza

Hi Jannie,
Great close up, The colors, everything is crisp, the lighting is great shes grteat details, Wonderful, photo, TFS Kyle

Hi Jannie,
This look really great!. Very vivid and saturated colors. The overall composition and framing looks perfect to me. Nice sharp detail and clarity. Love it!
Scott

Yes tjomma

Het dieselfde een nou net gelaai. Great shot
Great detail (VERY SHARP) Good DOV

Cheers
Brendon

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2006-03-25 14:15]

Superb macro Jannie. Well seen and well caught. everything is "numéro un" thanks.

Mario

Magnifica instantanea macro con nitidez y composicion para los que gustamos de los insectos
saludos
CARLOS

Hi Jannie

What a beauty! Lovely saturation of colour.
Well composed. Excellent POV with clear sharp details. Nice work. :-)

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 97 W: 21 N: 20] (89)
  • [2006-03-26 6:03]

Privet Jannie.
Hobby of these insects. Details, pleasant colors for eyes are well visible. A good picture.

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 955 W: 0 N: 89] (7805)
  • [2006-03-26 12:28]

Opss!!
Hi Jannie!
Wonderful details and beautiful shiny colors.Wonderful close-up and framaing.
Well done.osse

wow,
another great shot! Great colours, details, POV...
I have no words...
Thanks Ana:)

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2006-03-27 22:58]

Jannie, a very beautiful and... lovely moment.

Vivid colors, great saturation.

I like composition, pov and the blurred bg too.

  • Great 
  • pitai Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 15 N: 155] (1212)
  • [2006-04-15 11:59]

Jannie, congratulations!!! You have a beautiful gallery. I want some day to take pictures like this one. So clear and sharp. Just perfect. Incredible details! Thanks for sharing, will be back to see the rest of your gallery. Kind regards, Gabriel

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 896 W: 101 N: 1501] (5166)
  • [2006-04-30 15:12]

excellent macro of these ladybirds...

TFS

Emma

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 481 W: 0 N: 895] (2862)
  • [2006-06-20 16:00]

Hi Jannie.
Very nice and lovely moment, excellent macro with great colors, fine details, great composition.

Thanks and I wait more photos , comments , tips and critiques.

Saludos....RICARDO

Hello Jannie.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

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