Colors of My Heart

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■ Seven Spotted Ladybug

These photos were taken in April fifteen years ago with a PEN E-P2. At that time, I was thoroughly enjoying digital photography and took my camera wherever I went. These shots capture a ladybug that happened to wander by while I was photographing the poppies blooming in my garden. It was basking in the warm spring sunshine, relaxing on the petals of the poppy flowers.

​​​​​​​​The Seven-spotted Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) is one of the most commonly seen ladybugs in Japan. As its name suggests, it has seven black spots on its back. It measures about 5 to 8 mm in length and is characterized by its bright red or orange wing covers.

This species is widely distributed around the world. This ladybug is a predatory insect that primarily feeds on aphids, which are pests that damage crops. Because of this, it plays an important role in agriculture and horticulture as a natural enemy of aphids. As a result, the Seven-spotted Ladybug is often welcomed as a beneficial insect.

Its larvae, like the adults, also feed on aphids, grow through several stages, and eventually develop into pupae before becoming adults. The Seven-spotted Ladybug is active from spring to autumn, with peak breeding occurring in spring.

During winter, it survives by hibernating as an adult, hiding under fallen leaves or in tree crevices to escape the cold. On sunny days, it is often seen flying around and is familiar to many people as a common insect. While some ladybugs, such as the Twenty-eight-spotted Ladybug, are known to be agricultural pests that feed on crops like potatoes, the Seven-spotted Ladybug plays a valuable role as a natural predator of harmful insects.

When spotted in gardens or fields, it should be appreciated and protected as a helpful ally in reducing aphid populations.​​​​​​​​



Olympus PEN E-P2 / M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 / 1/1000s / F5.6 / ISO100 / ±0.0



Olympus PEN E-P2 / M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm F3.5‐5.6 / 1/800s / F5.6 / ISO100 / ±0.0



​​​​​■ Taken on 18th April 2010 by following equipment.​

Olympus PEN E-P2

【中古】(非常に良い)OLYMPUS ミラーレス一眼 PEN E-P2 ボディ ブラック E-P2BODY-BLK 価格：34,780円（税込、送料別) (2025/1/28時点) 楽天で購入

Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6

【1/24~29限定!最大4,000円OFF&1/,25限定で最大P3倍】【中古】オリンパス OLYMPUS 標準ズームレンズ M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ブラック 価格：13,800円（税込、送料無料) (2025/1/28時点) 楽天で購入

テントウムシハンドブック／阪本優介【1000円以上送料無料】 価格：1,540円（税込、送料無料) (2025/3/6時点) 楽天で購入

はらっぱこうえんのテントウムシ （新日本ひまわり文庫） [ 山本さゆり ] 価格：1,320円（税込、送料無料) (2025/3/6時点) 楽天で購入

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