Millions of Ladybugs Converge in Oakland Redwoods

[arcane1]

Every winter, between the months of November and February, millions of ladybugs appear in the parks up in the Oakland hills. You’ll find them in ginormous clusters, covering trees, logs, and on and under fallen leaves in Redwood Regional Park, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, and Joaquin Miller Park. The convergent lady beetles migrate like clockwork from the California coast to overwinter in these East Oakland woods.

Scientists still don’t know why the ladybugs come to this location in Oakland, or even how they know to come to the same spot that their forebugs have come to in winters past. But what naturalists do know is that they gather for warmth, to hibernate, and do the deed while they’re all huddled together so closely.

-snip-

http://cdn.thebolditalic.com/e=c(resrcit_cdn_origin)/s=w1600,pd1.2/o=85/?1415852621


http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/6283-millions-of-ladybugs-converge-in-oakland-redwoods

(video at link)

[A HERETIC I AM]

1. Looks like everybuggy's here. n/t

[JCMach1]

2. They do the same thing on my 100 year old house every Winter

here in Florida...

[Hissyspit]

3. I have a couple in the house right now.

They eat mites.

They did full the house a few winters ago, but they haven't done it since.

[KMOD]

11. I'm in the Capital Region of NY,

and I have about 30 gathered in the corner of my kitchen window this year. I think we had a few more last year. But yeah, the gather for warmth during hibernation it seems.

I also read that they leave a scent, so that others can find and join their group hug. I've read that some have had huge infestations of them in their homes.

I have no problem with mine. They're cute. I like 'em.

[ailsagirl]

4. That's amazing!!

Whenever I see one in my garden, it makes my day.

[UTUSN]

5. Always thought they are harmless, wasn't there something about their being (vicious, dangerous)?!1nt

[arcane1]

7. They're an invasive species and can be a pest to some crops.

Wikipedia says that grape plants are susceptible to a condition known as "ladybird taint", a term that makes me glad I'm not 12 years old

[Paulie]

8. Easy there with the Johnson.

[arcane1]

10. Exactly. No need to go there when there are cute insects to enjoy :)

[Hoppy]

18. I don't have a Johnson but I do have a John Thomas.

[Ned Flanders]

20. They do bite

I've been bitten several times, usually while sitting close to such a swarm, checking it out.

[sendero]

6. I live in the country....

.....in north Texas and every few years we get a "swarm" of ladybugs in the late fall or winter.

We just had one on the door of my garden shed, hundreds of ladybugs everywhere. It is odd but cool.

[mackerel]

9. Gorgeous!

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Kicking for the word "forebugs". nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. I was in Yosemite once in April --

and as I was leaving the park I drove into an area where noticed the air was full of insects -- I mean THICK with them. I was so startled I pulled over to see exactly what I was in and found out that I was in the middle of the annual ladybug hatch! 100s of thousands of ladybugs get started from Yosemite on their southern migration. It was a total surprise and took a few minutes to stay and enjoy the scene. Totally magical.

[arcane1]

15. I've had a similar experience when driving to Kitty Hawk, NC from VA at night

If you go at night during a certain time of the year, you'll encounter a stretch of road with millions of tiny frogs crossing it. It's impossible to avoid running over them, but there are so many that enough of them live to start the process all over again.

[mulsh]

14. I think the lady bugs like Oakland cuz it's hella cool.

I grew up and still live and hike there. When I was pot head teen ager we'd avoid these areas when the lady bugs were nesting. It's an amazing site. Take the guided walk if you can. watch out for poison oak, it's all over those hills.

[arcane1]

16. That's how I first heard of this- from a friend who took the guided trail

I hope to do the same thing soon

[Arugula Latte]

17. Mt. Diablo, too. I've been up there when there were a brazillion of them around.

[packman]

19. Remember that gruesome poem

As you held the ladybug in your hand and it crawled up your fingers to take flight --

Ladybug, Ladybug
Fly away home
Your house is on fire
And your children's alone

[passiveporcupine]

21. Years ago I came across a swarm (hatching) out here in the woods

In north central Oregon. I loved it. Haven't seen another one since. I have grape plants and they've never been bothered by ladybugs. My goats on the other hand...

[marzipanni]

22. Asian lady beetles and ladybugs are different.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Asian_Lady_Beetle_vs_Ladybug

Ten years ago there was a thread on DU about them-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1889589

[orleans]

23. there was a place i drove through in wisconsin

that had a ladybug infestation -- there were millions of them there too

i remember it was around a well