What a Change!

  First impressions can be deceiving.  That old fable about the ugly duckling transforming into a beautiful swan rings true more oft than not.  In the insect world, nymphs and larvae can be down right creepy looking.  They usually have spines, markings that look like extra eyes or even mimic venomous critters.  This is all a bit of self preservation designed by Mother Nature to make sure that the little squirts actually make it to maturity.  Sometimes those critters don't get much prettier but with some, the transformation is incredible.  Dragonfly larvae are about some of the creepiest looking critters alive but once they morph into adults, their looks change drastically.  Caterpillars turning to lovely butterflies is another example of the "Ugly Duckling" miracle.

  This morning, Son called my attention to a critter crawling on the rim of a large bucket used in the garden.  Obviously, the insect did not have a lot of intelligence as it kept on its endless journey around the circular top without stop.  Round and round and round it went as if on some epic trek.  We pondered just what the critter was.  It was not the prettiest thing around, for sure.  I was positive that it was the nymph of either a ladybug or of an Asian beetle.  Both bugs are actually sort of ladybugs and  look similar so it only stood to reason that the nymphs would, too.  I just could not figure which critter was doing the hiking.

  After a bit, we decided that this must be an Asian beetle as we have seen more of those than the ladybugs.  Just a few days prior this sighting, we were wishing a swarm of ladybugs would find the aphids in the pear trees but none came.  Perhaps the Asian beetles will feast upon the same aphids, that is, if this goofy nymph ever completes its journey around the bucket rim.