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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 Rogers
Sun, Sep 13 2009 at 12:38 PM EST
Read more: FUNNY, INSECTS

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(13)

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Posted By Lynae (from the original video) - Tue, Nov 24 2009 at 2:46 PM EST

Type of ladybug

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".

Posted By Dr. John Graham - Wed, Nov 04 2009 at 4:20 PM EST

WHICH LADYBUGS?

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.

Posted By Ann Reed - Wed, Oct 21 2009 at 2:25 PM EST

Ladybug Invasion in Boothbay Harbor, ME

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!

Posted By Caitie Leary - Tue, Jul 14 2009 at 9:56 AM EST

Whoa.

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.

Posted By KDT - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 9:16 PM EST

Thanks

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!!! :)

Posted By KDT - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 9:02 PM EST

my mothers sign to me

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"!!!!

Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 9:12 PM EST

13 on the 13th and LUCKY13

very cool. Tell your mom HI for us too!

Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 6:14 PM EST

Love Bugs

Lady bugs eat aphids! I usually BUY them! If they would just spread the love a little, it would be great.

Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 4:39 PM EST

i would like to see them too

can you send them to andredewanto@yahoo.com
thanks

Posted By Michelle Anthony - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 2:39 PM EST

I've seen something like This

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 : )

Posted By Anonymous - Fri, Jul 31 2009 at 11:45 AM EST

ladybugzzzzzzz

Plse send me ladybug pics shaylynnnena@yahoo.com

Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 8:13 PM EST

Ladybugs

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.

Posted By Preston - Mon, Jul 13 2009 at 3:15 PM EST

send me those pics

i would like to see those pics! can you send to pjheffley@yahoo! thx

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