Ladybird Lifecycle - Photo feature
Jun 14th, 2010 by Karthik
Some months ago, in the article titled “Bugs - Lifecycle” I had brought to you an interesting story with some pictures. This time I bring to you the lifecycle of a beetle!
One fine day, I was casually examining a clump of golden bamboo at Kabini, secretly hoping to be surprised. Little did I expect to be treated to an almost whole life-cycle of a pretty Ladybird beetle Synonycha sp. (Family Coccinellidae). I was excited when an adult ladybird beetle still sitting on the spent pupa caught my attention. I photographed this before the beetle moved off to explore its surroundings. Before long, I noticed a young grub (beetle larva) moving about on the bamboo, a fully grown grub, a grub about to pupate, a fully formed pupa, and an adult becoming the meal of a spider! One after the other, I photographed all these. The only thing I could not find were the eggs of this pretty beetle. Now let me allow the pictures to speak for themselves.
For purposes of better understanding, the pictures are arranged suitably to convey the lifecycle. The entire series of pictures were shot within a span of about half hour, all on the same bamboo clump!
A young grub
Grub moulting
A fully grown grub
Grub ready to pupate
The pupa
Adult sitting on the spent pupa after emerging
Adult Ladybird beetle
The spent pupal skin
A combfooted spider feeding on the adult beetle
Amazing pics
Hi Kartik,
Here you go the only missing step! These are also from ladybirds on a bamboo clump.
http://natashamhatre.blogspot.com/2008/03/babies.html
amazing article with great pics.
That’s a wonderful series of photographs! It’s so surprising to me that you managed to find every stage of this beetle just in half an hour!! That’s awesome
i am just too wowed to say anything more.The black and white sketches in school biology books should be replaced by these.But of course i am aware that schools these days are going high tech and are showing slides meanwhile kids genuinely interested are hungrily watching Animal planet.
But this has educated me in every way…that a life cycle of such prettiness is just say between half an hour to maybe a bit more…effervescent and transitory.
Knew that you will come up with something not less than this.
More admiration now…at ur skills and patience and definitely on your knowledge.
This is so interesting. Who says insects are uninteresting… Your patience was well rewarded. I completely agree with Shivani, I wish our school/ college bilology books were replaced with such pictures. Thanks Kartik once again for posting this incidence and I will try to me lil bit more observant if I ever come across such rare things.
Life in 30 mins…what can i say ? and we all crib that we miss out on life
And thats the reason why we need to wait and watch. Nice article Karthik
Amazing !! Interesting Article with great Pictures
~Rohit
When I was a kid I used to watch ladybirds in my garden. And now, there is no garden for my little daughter to watch ladybirds in. This post is some kind of a substitute. Thank you, Karthik!
Beautifull timeline with awesome photos..
The entire life cycle in 30 mins on one bamboo clump.. WOW!
Thanks for sharing this Karthik
Awesome pics of ladybird beetle in its life cycle!!
Enjoyed reading your interesting note.
Keep your good work moving
Amazing. A science lesson in pictures.
Wow…all this in half an hour, in one spot….to me, larvae and pupae are somehow magical transformations of one life-form into another, almost like..re-incarnation.
Your insect observations never cease to amaze me..
Fantastic, Karthik! Amazing pictures. Thanks for posting.
BTW, I have now given my book to a professional designer, and am also awaiting an ISBN from Delhi. Hopefully it will look special. Cheers…
Hi Karthik. Excellent photos and writeups here on your blog. I`ve been looking out for blogs with a similar content and approach to mine and I`ve finally found one. Do check my blog sometime. I will be following ur posts henceforth
Amazing pics and article karthik…TFS
Amazing and very informative..TFS
Amazing!!! very intresting pics and its informative.