These windows peek into my office, where I worked all day yesterday on the ladybug chapter of my citizen science book:
© Loree Griffin Burns
Can you see what I saw? (You may have to click on the image to enlarge it.)
Ladybugs! Hundreds and hundreds of ladybugs. One of the scientists I interviewed for the book told me that this particular species, Asian Multi-colored ladybug (Harmonia axyridris), spends the winter tucked into tiny crevices in the face of enormous cliffs that are common where they evolved. Here in North America, they fly instead to the biggest vertical structures they can find, usually houses, and crawl around looking for a place to tuck in. That’s why so many of them end up in my bathroom every winter. And that’s why the back of my house was covered with them yesterday afternoon.
Judging by the clip on my local news station last night, this behavior annoys people. Obviously these people are not writing about ladybugs! Here’s a bonus photo, and here’s to inspiration arriving on your doorstep (or office window) today, too.
© Loree Griffin Burns
