And They Didn't Even Invite Us to the Party.

Yesterday the walking sticks had a rendezvous on the door to my office.  Today, a spontaneous party of daddy long legs. 

I guess I know what I'll be dreaming about tonight...

I Love You, Ladybugs, But You Better Keep Out of My Orifices

You're about to learn something about me that is a little cool, slightly sad, and really gross. 

I live with part of a ladybug inside my body.

From 1984.

Okay before you start imagining how it got in my body, let me explain.

I was an innocent four-year-old playing outside of my home in Arkansas and my lady friend flew into my ear.  Simple as that!  But then she kept flying...down my ear canal.

They look so sweet, don't they?  Wrong!  I'm more scared of ladybugs than snakes.  I spent the afternoon in the hospital with the doctor urging me not to move as he thrust the flexible forceps down my ear canal.  And, let's just say he was a little too forceful with his forceps and he flogged that little lady while she was in my ear.  And when he retrieved his work, it was only half our lady.  Leaving the other half with me, for the rest of my life.

I hate to think what her decayed body has turned into, but whatever it is, it gifted me with ear infections throughout my childhood.  And I'm pretty sure I'm going deaf in that ear.

But I learned more from Wikipedia today:

Human Impact

Ladybugs generally do not injure humans but are mainly a nuisance. However, recent studies suggest that ladybugs can cause some reactions, such as eye irritation or asthma. Dr. Linda Gilkeson, states "You bet those little critters can bite! They don't have any kind of venom or irritating saliva (like mosquitoes, black flies, etc.), but they are just big enough for us to feel it when they pinch our skin." ^[8] The ladybugs emit an acrid odor and can stain surfaces with their yellowish secretions; this defense reaction known as "reflex bleeding," which prevents predators, such as birds, from eating them. However, in a home, the fluid can stain walls and fabrics. "This substance actually is ladybug blood," says Tedders, a researcher from the United States Department of Agriculture. "It comes out the joints of the legs. "
 
Humm, I wonder how much ladybug blood is in my body.  Nice thought. 

So on to the reason I've been thinking about ladybugs today.  I wasn't aware some ladybug species that formerly thrived in the US are now becoming rare.  This is problematic because ladybugs are natural and effective predators of crop-damaging insects  Thus, scientists need help tracking several ladybug species, and quite brilliantly, they've enlisted kids!

Kids contributing to the Lost Ladybug Project simply find ladybugs, photograph them, and send it their photos with location information.  So far 6,000 ladybugs of 79 species have been counted through the project.

 Ladybug Sightings via Lost Ladybug Project

Local elementary kids do similar work finding and identifying archeological artifacts on my work's properties in southern Austin.  Love it!

Here's to your future, ladybugs...just keep out of those kiddos' ears!