Growing Up Harmonia

Day 284: Over the last week or so, I have had the privilege (if the word is appropriate in this context) to observe an insect species go through its lifecycle from larva to pupa to adult. Unlike butterflies and moths which take weeks or months to complete their transformation, Harmonia axyridis (Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle) zipped through the process in a very short span of time. One day, I saw weird, creepy, crawly things all over the leaves of my pussywillow. I didn't check on it the next day, but by then BugGuide.com's experts had identified the insect for me, and on the second day following my observation of the larvae, many of them had begun to pupate. Some were already showing their adult colouration, while others were only visible as an orange lump inside a thin, transparent husk. The next day, most of the pupae had fully matured and had flown off to do whatever it is Harmonia axyridis does (eating aphids, I presume...that's why they were introduced here), but I was able to find a few adult specimens to complete this triptych of the lifecycle.

Sphinx Moth Pupa

Day 248: I have to thank my partners in Team Biota for putting me on the right track to identify this pupa, dug up from the ground when I was attempting to secure an earthworm for a photographic project. My knowledge in the field of entomology is very limited. Joe is a "bug guy," so I referred the critter to him. He suggested that it was probably a Sphinx Moth pupa. I did some further checking to confirm it, and although I can't say with certainty that it is the pupa of Hyles lineata, the White-Lined Sphinx is the only Sphinx I have seen in this area (the adult is huge and beautiful). It surprised me to learn that the larvae of these moths burrow into soil and remain there for at least 2-3 weeks before emerging as adults. Many overwinter, as I am sure was the case here.

This further suggests that my "pollinator plantings" are working! The caterpillar hosts for this moth include grape, tomato and fuchsia, all of which I have in my garden. The adults nectar on columbine, larkspur, petunias, honeysuckle and lilac, again all species which I cultivate in varying degrees. Here is the proof that if you give them habitat, they will come!