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7 Spot Ladybird


7 Spot Ladybird
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 696 W: 13 N: 1407] (5035)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50, Raynox DCR 150 macro lens
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/50 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-09-20 9:34
Viewed: 16389
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this in my back garden earlier today, I was cutting my hedge and was trying to re-locate any bugs and stuff first.

Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds (British English, Australian English, South African English), ladybugs (North American English) or lady beetles (preferred by some scientists). The family name comes from its type genus, Coccinella. Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 5,000 species described[1], more than 450 native to North America alone. Coccinellids are small insects, ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm (0.04 to 0.4 inches), and are commonly yellow, orange, or scarlet with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, head and antennae. A very large number of species are mostly or entirely black, gray, or brown and may be difficult for non-entomologists to recognize as coccinellids (and, conversely, there are many small beetles that are easily mistaken as such, like tortoise beetles).

Coccinellids are generally considered useful insects as many species feed on aphids or scale insects, which are pests in gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and similar places. The Mall of America, for instance, releases thousands of ladybugs into its indoor park as a natural means of pest control for its gardens. Some people consider seeing them or having them land on one's body to be a sign of good luck to come, and that killing them presages bad luck. A few species are pests in North America and Europe.

Coccinellids are often brightly colored to ward away potential predators. This phenomenon is called aposematism and works because predators learn by experience to associate certain prey phenotypes with a bad taste (or worse). Mechanical stimulation (such as by predator attack) causes "reflex bleeding" in both larval and adult ladybird beetles, in which an alkaloid toxin is exuded through the joints of the exoskeleton, deterring feeding.

Most coccinellids overwinter as adults, aggregating on the south sides of large objects such as trees or houses during the winter months, and dispersing in response to increasing day length in the spring. In Harmonia axyridis, eggs hatch in 3-4 days from clutches numbering from a few to several dozen. Depending on resource availability, the larvae pass through four instars over 10-14 days, after which pupation occurs. After a teneral period of several days, the adults become reproductively active and are able to reproduce again, although they may become reproductively quiescent if eclosing late in the season.

It is thought that certain species of Coccinellids lay extra infertile eggs with the fertile eggs. These appear to provide a backup food source for the larvae when they hatch. The ratio of infertile to fertile eggs increases with scarcity of food at the time of egg laying.

Habitats

Most coccinellids are beneficial to gardeners in general, as they feed on aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, and mites throughout the year. As in many insects, ladybirds in temperate regions enter diapause during the winter, so they often are among the first insects to appear in the spring. Some species (e.g., Hippodamia convergens) gather into groups and move to higher land, such as a mountain, to enter diapause. Predatory ladybirds are usually found on plants where aphids or scale insects are, and they lay their eggs near their prey, to increase the likelihood the larvae will find the prey easily. Ladybirds are cosmopolitan in distribution, as are their prey.

Notes from Wilkipedia.com

Taken with Tripod
Cropped
Resized
USM

Thanks for looking
nglen, Seabird, Argus, iris, crs, rousettus, Ena, gracious, haraprasan, livius, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-09-20 9:37]

Hi Hilary . This is a first class close up of the Lady Bird . Your use of the lighting has given bright colours. very fine detail around the head area. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi, Hilary,

lovely and excellent close-up. very nice details. tfs.

chrs,
Man Yee

Hello Hilary,
Excellent close up with clear details and perfect sharpness, very well done
Selnur

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-09-20 9:59]

Hello Hilary,
What a superb macro of a Seven-spot!
I like frontal the POV taken with fine sharpness and the composition on the leaf against an OOF leafy BG is great.
A very nice image and thanks for sharing it!
Good things can happen when you're cutting your hedge!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2008-09-20 10:51]

Hola Hilary: Me parece una foto maravillosa; el entorno, luz, enfoque y la belleza y detalles del insecto son excelentes y producen una foto muy atractiva...saludo.

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 60 N: 970] (3088)
  • [2008-09-20 11:06]

Hi Hilary,

A fantastic macro shot here...the details on the ladybird are amazing ....rich colours combination work very well.
TFS & Cheers

Hello Hil

A beautiful and vivid capture of this ladybird.
The colours are rich and well saturated.
Nicely composed in the frame with the diagonal flow.
I like the texture of the beetle's shell.
Nicely done.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 0 N: 922] (3551)
  • [2008-09-20 11:31]

Hello Hilary,

What a fine portret of the Ladybird! You have chosen a very fine lighting solution rendering fine details as well as excelent sharp details. There is a very good contrast between insect's colors and leaf beneath.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

Hi Hilary,
Seven spotted Ladybird is one of the most known and the best beetles (Coleoptera). I also like it. You captured it with a great macro-shot. Superb colors and sharp details, POV and composition also great. Thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 324 W: 61 N: 594] (2454)
  • [2008-09-20 15:20]

Hello,
Simply great shot!
Good compo & sharpness!
Regards
Ena

Hello Hilary,
This is a very fine macro with such good closeness of the Ladybird!
good head on pose with perfect sharpness, good colour and details
very well done indeed
my compliment
Tony

Excelente trabajo con un sobresaliente encuadre y un buen trabajo con el color.
Saludos Hilary: J. Ignasi

Hi Hilary,
A nice capture of this beautiful ladybird bug. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2008-09-21 21:40]

Hi Hilary,
Another outstanding macro of this beautiful Ladybird with such amazing colours and sharp details. The lighting is so beautiful and you have handled it very skillfully too. Excellent POV and composition. Thanks for sharing this fine image.
Sumon

Hi Hilary
great macro with wonderful details, fine colors and splendid sharpness,
well done

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2008-09-22 14:38]

Hi Hil,
an excellent macro of this Ladybird.
Love the bright, vivid colours.
Great sharpness.
Nice soft light.

Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-03-17 10:35]

Hi, dear and rare guest here.
Fantastic macro shot with terrific details of the charming ladybird. In winter we have only this species for shooting. And I took many shots. However, even one my shot does not stand near yours. Bravo. I love all in it.
Yours Alexei.

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