sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I walked the year this morning looking for specimens and I found two of the that made me think, "What the heck is this..?" It looked like a bright little Ladybug stuck to a leaf with something coming out of its head. Egads.!

I brought one them in and looked at it under magnification and discovered exactly what it was. It's a Ladybug that is transitioning from its larvae nymph in its pupal stage into an what would in a few days be an adult Ladybug.

In its pupal stage, the ladybug is usually yellow or orange with black markings as you an see in my first image. The pupa remains still, attached to a leaf, throughout this stage. The ladybug's body undergoes a remarkable transformation, directed by special cells called "histoblasts." They control a biochemical process through which the larval body is broken down and reformed into the adult ladybug. The pupal stage lasts between seven and 15 days.

Isn't Mother Nature amazing!!

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wthomson Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Interesting explanation and terrific photos!!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, it's quite amazing how when the time comes they anchor down onto a leaf and the Ladybug adult starts to emerge out of the center of it until there is little if anything left of what was once the nymph stage.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Great work, sippy.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Kpmac. When I staged the session I could see the beginning of the formation of what would eventually be the adults legs which are just buds at this time.

dsturr

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks for viewing and for the reply.