Saving Ladybirds

 

The cluster of ladybirds, that were hibernating in the corner of the ceiling and here (see previous post)were awakening today. 
It is beautiful spring-like weather and lovely warm sunshine. It was their time.
I happened to notice them sitting on the glass window, on the floor and the wooden framework of the glass.
They were trying to find a way out!

Somehow they found the way inside the house last fall, but it was clear to me that they did not know how to get out. 
I wanted to help, With a brush tied to a stick, I tried to sweep them from the ceiling and the highest spots on the window. Others were easier to pick up from the floor or lower places. It was clear to me that they did not understand my interference. They flew away and stubbornly tried again to get a way out themselves. 
The door was open, but they did not understand or see that. 
I managed to rescue them after more than an hour chasing and trying to catch. Some had not survived, others looked like dead, but suddenly began to walk. I put them all outside in a violets plant. Hoping they would find something to eat or find shelter. When I looked later, to make some photo's, none of them were there anymore. all flew away except a few that did not make it.

I was able to make a beautiful photo from the last one, spreading its wings!!!!!

ladybirds

 

The ladybirds outside, reminded me of the hibernating ladybirds inside my room. 
Who are hibernating against the ceiling.(see my post from november 7th last year)
I found one being awake, crawling on the floor to find a way out. 
So I took him outside, hoping he would find a place to continue his journey.

There are still lots of ladybirds packed together in the corner. 

Ladybirds

As I removed some old dead leaves in a pot outside, I noticed a ladybird sitting in the warm sun rays. 
The sun is shining today and I think it awakened from his hibernation.
A little later I did not see him anymore and also the sun had moved away behind some clouds.

I replaced some old leaves to see where he was hiding.
And there he was, together with his mate, sitting close together to keep warm.
I put some extra leaves on top of them to keep warm for the coming night.

Ladybirds cluster

 A cluster of ladybirds have settled themselves in a corner of the ceiling for hibernation.

'Hmmm' I don't think that's a good idea, because when its gets colder the central heating will make it maybe too warm for them, so that they wake up again.

Weird enough, several years ago, another group of ladybirds did the same thing and sat hibernating on the same spot! 
I don't think they are the same ladybirds, but another generation. 3 years ago.
Why do they take the same spot? There are lots of other places....

 I posted in 2022 a post on 24-10-22 with a group of ladybirds sitting there on the same spot. Isn't that weird?

And here I found another group on the same spot back in 2016 

It does not make sense to me at all. Does anyone know? 

Ladybird

 A few days ago, I saw the first ladybird coming out of winter-sleep.
As I had no camera with me, I was not able to capture him.
Today I saw another one, sleeping on the side of my doormat. I love seeing the first ladybirds again. 

I saw some bumbles as well... spring is really on its way!

Empty cocoon

 Yesterday I noticed that the cocoon was empty!

This was not according to my plan!

I had the cocoon taken inside, on some branches and leaves in a jar, to be able to follow the process of transformation easily and keep my eye on it. I was really disappointed to notice the the ladybird had come out, without me.

And to make it worse... where is he? Now, roaming around in my house without food would be a small disaster. I looked for him everywhere on the walls and windows...no ladybird to be seen anywhere.

However, today my sister came along and I showed the small empty cocoon and told the whole story that I wanted to photograph or maybe film the whole process... She suddenly noticed the ladybird sitting under a leaf where he sat in hiding!

I was so relieved to notice he had not flown away, but had waited for us to see.

I took some pics and then set there little jar with branches and leaves outside. No that he can fly away to find his food and have a free life!

So glad it all finished well!

Cocoon ladybird

I should have posted this on June 29th. For some reason I did n't.

The cocoon made some lifting movements. Stretching up and down. And then stopped for a while. I was hoping the ladybird would come out soon. but as it was getting dark, it did not.

 

Ladybird cocoon

Today I was on my bike and on my way cycling along some nice smaller roads, I wanted to pick some field flowers. I love the flowers that grow in the wild. 

On one of the leaves of the flower stem there were 2 ladybirds mating. I also noticed a cocoon of a ladybird glued on a leaf.

The ladybirds flew away. The cocoon stayed on the leaf. I took it home. Now I have a cocoon here. 

Tomorrow I hope the ladybird might come out. I will keep my eye on it.

I do hope to see the transformation happening.

Ladybirds coming out

 Last week I have seen a lot of Ladybirds (Lieveheersbeestjes) coming out of their wintersleep.

Spring has awakened them for a new season!

Ladybirds

Now one week later...(see the post of Okt 16)

I had not seen the ladybirds anymore. Not on the window outside nor on the inside.

Of course I did not look for them all the time so I might have missed it. But this morning I noticed in the corner of the ceiling a black spot, when zooming in on it, there was sitting a cluster of ladybirds! more than 15 ladybirds...Somehow they managed to come into my house! Where was the open spot to enter?

Weird to me is, that some years ago I had a cluster of ladybirds sitting there on the same spot. (nov 06 2016) And an other year as well....same spot.

I have lots of other little corners in the room but no ladybird is sitting there. Why do they choose that same spot???

Is it in their DNA or does their cel-memory telling them this is the best spot to hibernate for winter?

I really have no clue why they always choose that same spot. Its very interesting...Does anyone know?

Ladybirds

 Today a beautiful sunny autumn day. As I went outside to sit in the sunshine for a while, I noticed lots and lots of ladybirds all sitting on my glass window. and on the other side of the house they were there as well!

I tried to count them, there were at least more than 50 ladybirds on one side! and more then 20 on the other side of the house. amazing sight...so many!

It looked like they were trying to get inside the house, and when I looked inside, at least 5 did... I tried to put them outside again. Did not get them all. Are they trying to find shelter and find a place to go hibernate? I don't know yet. Later when the sun left on that spot, the ladybirds were gone too.