Fall of 2015 will probably go down as one of the better ones we've seen in the Northland;  unseasonably-warm temperatures, light to moderate rainfall, and a glorious display of fall colors have us all enjoying this respite before winter arrives.  But - perhaps you've also noticed that we have an unusual number of Ladybugs, too.

Ladybugs (scientifically: Coccinellidae) are a small beetle that has a characteristic orange or red dome-shaped wing cluster that usually have black dots.  They're not native to the United States.  Rather, they were introduced to this country in the 1970's to help farmers battle aphids that were destroying their crops.

So why are we seeing so many in our area this fall?

The answer to why there is an abundant population of Ladybugs this fall is two-fold.  First, our warm and dry summer provided a perfect situation for aphids - which led to a larger population of their nemesis the Ladybug.  Second, our warmer fall has let the Ladybug population continue to grow.  Now that winter is approaching, they're trying to find shelter for the cold months ahead.  With each warm cycle this autumn, the Ladybugs are re-energized into this search.

 

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