Ladybug invasion paints Colorado town red
A Colorado reporter with a bug phobia faces his fears as he's covered head to toe in massive quantities of ladybugs.
By Stephanie RogersSun, Sep 13 2009 at 12:38 PM EST
15
Photo: 9NEWS When a reporter with a bug phobia ventured out to Jefferson County to cover a story about a ladybug invasion, he told himself repeatedly that the little red bugs were harmless and cute. They don’t bite. Kids like them.
So Chris Vanderveen of 9NEWS was okay with the whole situation when he arrived on scene and a four-year-old boy showed him a few dozen ladybugs convened on a drain spout outside his parents’ home. This wasn’t too scary, and it certainly wasn’t the ‘crazy’ number of ladybugs he had been told to expect.
Then he reached the infested house at the top of a mountain.
“There were dozens of them floating in the air. And then we saw the back of the house. That very well could have been the moment that I lost my you know what,” Vanderveen reported on the 9NEWS website.
“They were covering the man's house. There were thousands of them. They landed on my shirt. They crawled up my pants. A couple were clearly squished in the bottom of my shoe. And yes, one even flew into my mouth.”
Check out this video by Kids Talk Politics:
The town, which doesn’t want the media knowing its exact location for fear of an influx of tourists, has so many ladybugs buzzing about that some trees, homes and grassy areas are just a mass of red.
The insects are out in force in the Front Range region of Colorado thanks to increased rainfall during spring and early summer. The additional moisture has made their food supply plentiful so their numbers have increased by 15 to 20 percent.
For Chris Vanderveen, the ladybug invasion was a chance to get over his fear of flying insects – at least temporarily. As they crawled up his leg, dropped down his shirt, took up residence in his hair and continued to fly toward his mouth, Vanderveen realized that they’re just ladybugs after all – nothing to be afraid of. But that doesn’t mean his phobia is gone for good.
“As for those pesky moths, yep, I still hate 'em. And I'm pretty sure they don't taste like chicken either.”
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Comments
Richard C. Ingraham
08/15/2010 14:49 PM
I have been surprised to find Black Ladybugs on my perrenials. Surprised about the color but tickled that they are busy eating pests in my garden. A friend told me about the "invasion" so I found this cite. As I understand it, the black ones were imported from England in 1998.
Rose Jones
04/28/2010 18:35 PM
Love this stuff. I guess that is where the ladybugs that we bought went.
Lynae (from the original video)
11/24/2009 14:46 PM
The type here are the native convergent ladybug. There was a followup story on the 9news website which you can find if you search their site for "Return of the Lady Beetle".
Dr. John Graham
11/04/2009 16:20 PM
Please go beyond the first step and give the species of ladybug involved. Harmonia axyridis, the Asiatic Ladybird Beetle is a species introduced into the U.S. to control aphids on pecan trees because they fly higher than the native forms. It also will form large swarms. A really sharp close-up may provide needed information. The local extension agent can provide the infoirmation.
Ann Reed
10/21/2009 14:25 PM
Oh my goodness, the front of the office is covered with millions of these little critters. They've gotten inside the building in a white painted hallway and the walls look polka dotted!
cleary
07/14/2009 09:56 AM
Those lady bugs are amazing! I've never seen anything like that... except on, like, cheesy horror/sci-fi movies. That's one bug infestation that I'm not grossed out by (it's almost -- dare I say it -- "cute"). Haha.
KDT
07/13/2009 21:16 PM
For the hello to my mom.....we will send your hello to her tonight in heaven!!! Thanks for reading my posting!!! 13 on the 13th??? Is it your birthday??? If so Happy Birthday!!! :)
KDT
07/13/2009 21:02 PM
My sister and I used to tell our mother to come back as a ladybug and low and behold it has been 13 years ago today that my mom passed away.....so I feeling she is shouting "HERE I AM"!!!!
Anonymous
07/13/2009 18:14 PM
Lady bugs eat aphids! I usually BUY them! If they would just spread the love a little, it would be great.
Michelle Anthony
07/13/2009 14:39 PM
Last year While 4 Wheeling up @ Deckers Co. I Heard something Rumbling in the Bushes. All of a sudden when I looked over there, there were Hundreds among Hundreds of Lady Bugs Covering Every Branch of the Acorn Bush!! It was so amazing. I have Pics If you would like me to Email Them : )
Anonymous
07/13/2009 20:13 PM
I live in Texas and it is so hot this summer that all the ladybugs are gone. I even saw some yellow one early in the spring. I love the little ladies so much I named my chihuahua after them. Ii spell her name LadyBug. She is adorable just like the little bugs.
Preston
07/13/2009 15:15 PM
i would like to see those pics! can you send to pjheffley@yahoo! thx
