Spring is nigh - our ladybugs are hatching

Spring is just around the corner. I spotted my first ladybug of the year on the blind in our entry way this morning.

One thing we inherited in our 75 year old house was an annual hatching and exodus of masses of ladybugs. The first time this happened it totally freaked me out, I admit it. I could not figure out where they were coming from! We finally determined they were living in the walls, and were visible because they would come out between the two panes of window glass during the sunny days of February or March. Many would be in the house itself, on the walls along the ceiling, and some would live their lives between the panes of glass. (It drove the cats nuts!!)

When we replaced our windows in April of our 2nd year there I wondered if we might have lost our ladybug population and their access to our livingroom. But we didn't! In 2004 our ladybugs made their appearance, but all were in the house this time since there was no window panes to be stuck between. It seemed like there were less than before, tho, perhaps some were going outside (and I don't know how they survived if they did).

So, the first ladybug was out this morning, on the window blind. When this happens sometimes we can not open the blinds all the way because this would squish the ladybug between the pleats. I opened it far enough for a cat to walk on the window sill and to keep the ladybug out of kitty reach, but enough room to let it move away to another part of the house.

Usually we get to enjoy our ladybugs for a month or longer. The cats will spend some time chasing them around, patting at them with their paws delicately as they try to figure out if they are edible or not. It's fun to watch. And a true sign of spring at our house!