Ladybug Larva

The image choice for today was between beautiful and educational. Beauty won out, but check out the other image if you like (not for the faint-hearted).

I havent been on a nature crawl in the backyard for a long time. Today's safari yielded this ladybug larva, a spider with a bright red back, a long orange-headed beetle, an unknown green larva, ladybugs with various spots, and a gazillion aphids in various stages of development. I am both fascinated and severely repulsed by the aphid colony--there are just too many: easily enough for a late-night creepy movie. The larva has my blessing for a quick and painless transformation, and may she enjoy her upcoming meals in peace.