For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Friday, September 10, 2010

The caterpillar and the ladybird/ladybug

Standing on the wall outside are a few cacti and I noticed this caterpillat and ladybird/bug on one and wondered what they would do when they met?
After what seemed like ages, the caterpillar went passed and seemed to nod "goodday" to the beetle. Or was it my imagination?
Then it went on its way. I think that the caterpillar is of a Common White Butterfly and the ladybird is young Lunate.
Then I noticed something under the ladybird and on closer inspection, it turned out to be a larvae she was hiding/protecting.
The cacti next to it was in bloom so I took a picture of it too.
What pretty flowers on something which has such ugly thorns!!

34 comments:

Diane said...

I think I need to be more observant - I would never have noticed something like that under the ladybird!! Great photography. Diane

Unknown said...

So much is going on that cactus! Great find, Joan.

Claudia said...

Beautiful shots, every image is so captivating!

Philip said...

Ha !! Joan can notice a flee in a water droplet I am sure she has "OWL EYES" LoL !! BTW Joan I have some of my plants blooming now "A RED ONE" have a great weekend :)

Gaelyn said...

What amazes me is that they can crawl across those cactus thorns.

MadSnapper said...

these are amazing. what we can't touch without getting pricked, they can walk around on. lovely to look at also.

Andrea said...

This serie,Joan,is really amazing.
The pictures are very good,with a strong definition and a perfect focus.
But there is something more even if I can't find the right words...
Maybe a touch of poetry?

Tammie Lee said...

dear lady,
your photos are wonderful, the first one really gets me, like an exquisite piece of art!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joan: Fun macros of the bug and the catterpillar. You could tell a children's story with these shots.

blog with no name said...

When a bug meets a bug in the rye...

Becky said...

What a cute meeting!
I love Cactus, but don't have much luck raising them.
Such pretty flowers.
B.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Diane. It is just because my eye is now trained to pick up things like that. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jose. One would think that this is the last place insects would make a home or be found? I can thing of many other places which would be softer. LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Claudia. It was interesting to watch and see what was going to happen. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! Thanks Philip. You make me sound like Dr Watson with his magnifying glass. Just thinking about it, I should actually take mine with as it would be a great help when I spot things. Thanks for giving me the idea. :)

"A Red One"? Hmmm!!.... sounds interesting. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Me too Gaelyn. After all, there are so many softer plants around. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Sandra. The caterpillar is so soft and it was amazing to see how easily he moved across this without being hooked on one of the thorns.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Andrea. What I found interesting was the fact that the caterpilar seemd to slow down, turn to look at the ladybird and seem to nod his head in acknowledgement. Of course this must all be my imagination, but that was my perception of it. Maybe my grey cells are working overtime and need a holiday? LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It is so sweet of you to say so Tammie. Thanks a lot.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You are right Tom. I never thought of it that way before but it would make a lovely story.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! Now that is a song I have not heard for a long time Mike. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I am sure they would grow there by you Becky as well as the orchids do. They just take very little watering, just a few drops every couple of weeks and no more. I have one growing indoors that seems to be doing quite well.

Rambling Woods said...

Oh how neat these finds are Joan

Mary said...

My goodness....I would have ended up with cactus spines in my nose trying to get those photos. YOu are so observant of the little things!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It seems that I can spot things like this easily now Michelle. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I am wary of those thorns Mary. :) Luckily I have not lost a finger to them yet. :)

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

I love these. A couple of my cacti, as well as my air plants, are coming into flower.

I haven't taken many pictures lately and have felt very uninspired because of that. I need to get out there and be inspired again.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I love the cacti when they bloom. It looks so odd with the pretty flowers amongst the thorns.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I feel that way sometimes too and especially during the winter when there is not much around. I am leaving on Friday to spend 2 weeks in the bush again, so needless to say, I am all fired up and ready to go. :)

Unknown said...

Oh, no wonder she didn't want to move. How polite of the 'pillar to nod his greetings. :o)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Well he could have been glaring at her too for all I know but that was my impression. :) Do I have a fertile imagination or what. LOL!!

sandy said...

Breathtaking photos! I love that you LOVE nature and share it with us. Great photos...award winning in my opinion.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thank you so much for your kind words Sandy. Yes, I do love nature and sharing it. If I think back to when I started blogging how disappointed I was but after a few month, discovered that this was exactly what I wanted to do with my pictures and knowledge.

Unknown said...

LOL Joan - there is no better type of imagination to have. :o) Yours is a treasure to all of us reading your blog. have a great day!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It is sweet of you to say so Ktista. Thank you. I guess I tend to put human traits or explinations to what I see. :)

Hope you are having a great day too.