In 2015 there were lots and lots of ladybugs in our garden. Most of these are non-native multi-colored Asian lady beetles, identifiable by an M or W pattern of spots on their heads.

Two-toned:

Orange:

Two spots:

Six spots:

No spots:

Lots of spots:

Big spots:

(This is starting to feel like a Dr. Seuss book.)

Ladybug with a deformed wing:

Aphids before ladybug arrival:

Aphids after ladybug arrival:

Ladybug eggs:

Just hatched:

Ladybug larva:

Grabbing aphids:

This year, I plan to participate in the Lost Ladybug Project to help document the species in Minnesota.

There were also other beetles, like the milkweed beetle:

Non-native pest, Japanese beetle:

Grapevine beetle – much bigger than any other beetles I saw:

Soldier beetle or Pennsylvania leatherwing:

And my favorite beetle sighting of 2015, locust borer:

More bugs and critters:

• damselflies and dragonflies
• flies
• caterpillars and butterflies
• honeybees and bumblebees
• other bees and wasps
• arachnids
• other bugs
• animals
• all