Ladybugs (8+)
People have long forgotten when exactly ladybugs first appeared on earth planet. Maybe a thousand years, or even a million years ago. But they haven’t always looked like they do look now - red with black spots. In the year one, ladybugs were of yellow color only, and they had no spots at all.
And here is the narrative about them:
In the spring, as always, female ladybugs laid yellow eggs, from which larvae hatched. The larvae turned into bugs. At the beginning of summer, there were thousands, millions, and maybe even gazillion of them. When the baby ladybugs grew up, they flew up to the sky with the adults. It was very beautiful: there were yellow dandelions on the ground, and unusual yellow clouds of ladybugs in the sky. Then the wind scattered those "clouds" in different directions. Over the summer, the number of ladybugs significantly decreased, because they were, and still are, a favorite delicacy of most species of birds. The birds were ready to eat them by thousands with great pleasure, but to the great displeasure of the bugs themselves. Only a few survived.
The following spring, millions of new babies were born and history repeated itself. This went on for many years, maybe a hundred, maybe even thousand years. Of course, they were upset by the situation. Anyone could pass away at any time.
Once, those yellow bugs who had survived gathered for a Council to discuss the issue of survival of their species. They were thinking about it for a long time and came to the conclusion that all the bugs needed to change their color: someone suggested green color to blend in with the grass, but after thinking about it again, they changed their minds - after all, they fly, and not just crawl on plants. Many different colors were suggested. They argued for hours on end, and finally decided to settle on blue. When they all rose to the sky, everyone would think that those creatures were not ladybugs at all, but that it was just the sky - blue-blue sky. And there were many blue flowers growing on the ground. The birds would not guess anything, and the bugs would remain alive.
They started voting. Those who voted in favor of blue color, flew off in one direction, and those who voted against - in the other direction. The majority were for the blue color. While they were voting, a wind blew and scattered the bugs in different directions. But they flew away with peace of mind.
A new spring came. The mother-bugs, as usual, laid yellow eggs. Every day they watered their would-be children with blue nectar collected from blue flowers. The mothers worked hard. Finally, larvae hatched from the eggs. Predictably, the larvae were different from those that appeared before. They were green-blue, but, as always, incredibly ravenous. They greedily ate aphids, spider mites, whiteflies... and grew not by the day or the hour, but by the minute. Soon they turned into sky-blue bugs.
The bugs rose into the sky and blended in it. A very huge cloud of blue bugs formed. That cloud completely covered the sun, in a way that all the animals were scared. The sky was blue, not a single cloud, and there was no sun. The bugs flew across the sky and rejoiced at their transformation. But out of nowhere and completely unexpectedly, wind started blowing, scattering the blue cloud in different directions. The sun immediately appeared in the sky, which made everyone very happy. The bugs, having flown across the meadows, gardens, steppes, crawled across the leaves, but the birds continued… to peck them as before. So, by the end of the summer, there were very, very few of them left. The situation repeated itself exactly as it had happened many, many times before.
And so, the Council met again. This time it was suggested to change the color of the bugs to red. ‘It's the color of fire!’ they decided. ‘The birds might be afraid of the red color, just as they are afraid of fire, and will stop eating us?’
In the spring, the mothers laid eggs again. They were yellow, as before. But this time the mothers watered them with the nectar of red flowers. Bugs of such an unusual color appeared, such as no one else in the world had. They were purple-red. However, the birds continued to eat the poor bugs just as they had once eaten the yellow and blue ones.
The bugs were very worried about the misfortune, but in the end, they reconciled themselves to their lot. The situation went on for many, many years, maybe a hundred, or maybe even a thousand years.
Then one day a very unusual bug was born among them. In appearance the bug was similar to all the others: in body, and the mouth part, and color. And he was different from everyone else in that he was lazy to the point of being ugly. He was born on a leaf where there were aphids everywhere. There was no need to fly anywhere in search of food. He spent the whole day eating those aphids and resting either on the leaf or under it. He was so lazy that he was too lazy to even clean his legs, nose, and belly. His entire back was covered in dirty black spots.
His legs were so dirty and sticky that all sorts of nasty stuff stuck to them. Over time, he even stopped hiding from the ravenous birds so that they wouldn't eat him. Other bugs avoided him, and if they had to pass by, they tried not to breathe in. He smelled so bad.
However, somehow that bug managed to survive until autumn, while his brethren were already dead because the birds had pecked them.
No one liked this stinking slob. And they decided to punish him. After all, he was a disgrace to the whole family!
A new Council was assembled to discuss the lazy guy's behavior. While he was being judged, dressed up, scolded, shamed, the bug lay down on a leaf and indifferently listened to those who were diligently scolding him. He thought: ‘Why are they trying to find fault with me? I don't interfere with anyone's life, I don't take away any aphids, everyone has enough space...’
Suddenly a flock of sparrows flew in and started pecking the bugs. Only a few were saved, those that managed to hop into the thick grass and hide. And the sloth didn't even move, didn't even move his leg. He was too lazy, remember?
It was getting dark. All the birds, having eaten their fill for the day, were already resting. All the surviving bugs gathered together to discuss the incident and saw that the bug was still resting on the leaf.
They became thoughtful about it. What's the secret? Maybe it's because this lazy guy smells bad? Maybe this is the mystery of why the birds don't touch him? But how can you make sure that both the legs and wings are clean and smell so that it's unpleasant for the birds?
They thought about it for a very long period, and finally came up with their own unusual security mechanism. They came up with something that no one else had ever had - a special odorous liquid that, when it gets into the mouth of a predator, burns its entire mouth like fire. The bugs decided to hide the liquid in a special pouch on their hind legs. When walking, it comes out of their legs, leaving a milky-orange odorous trail. At first, the birds pecked the bugs, but after that they got headaches and stomach aches, and their wings did not obey at all. It should be noted that by that time many insects of the same red color as our bugs had appeared in nature - their "outfit" was too beautiful and unusual. Something had to be done so that the birds could distinguish one from the other. And then the resourceful bugs found a way out. They again used the experience of the lazy bug that never washed itself and added black spots to their wings so that the birds could distinguish them from other red insects. Gradually, the birds developed an aversion to those spotted bugs and stopped pecking them.
Spiders are also afraid of them. For example, if the spotted ladybug gets into a web, the spider, as usual, hurries to the victim that is stuck to the web. But as it approaches the victim, it understands that that is not the proper food at all, because the smell oozing out from these bugs is terrible. The spider hurries to get rid of the stinking bug and tears the web itself, otherwise no one will even come close to the trap web because of the smell. How the bugs were able to create their poisonous milk, they keep a secret. Now these bugs have become very numerous, and they have flown all over the world. Among them you can find yellow, white, orange, blue, and even black and purple, but always with black spots. And they were called divine ladybugs because since ancient times they have enjoyed honor and respect for the benefit they bring to man, destroying a huge number of harmful insects.
Many peoples of the world even consider them symbols of goodness, well-being and trust.
And they were called ladybugs because, just like real cows, they lactate milk, only of orange color.
Children, seeing a ladybug, sing a song cheerfully:
Ladybug,
Fly away to heaven,
There are your children,
Eating candies.
One candy for every chuild,
But none for you.
So much for the story about an unusual ladybug.
A ladybug is a trustful creature and is not afraid of people. And you, my friend, treat this useful bug well. Let it live and benefit people.
People have long forgotten when exactly ladybugs first appeared on earth planet. Maybe a thousand years, or even a million years ago. But they haven’t always looked like they do look now - red with black spots. In the year one, ladybugs were of yellow color only, and they had no spots at all.
And here is the narrative about them:
In the spring, as always, female ladybugs laid yellow eggs, from which larvae hatched. The larvae turned into bugs. At the beginning of summer, there were thousands, millions, and maybe even gazillion of them. When the baby ladybugs grew up, they flew up to the sky with the adults. It was very beautiful: there were yellow dandelions on the ground, and unusual yellow clouds of ladybugs in the sky. Then the wind scattered those "clouds" in different directions. Over the summer, the number of ladybugs significantly decreased, because they were, and still are, a favorite delicacy of most species of birds. The birds were ready to eat them by thousands with great pleasure, but to the great displeasure of the bugs themselves. Only a few survived.
The following spring, millions of new babies were born and history repeated itself. This went on for many years, maybe a hundred, maybe even thousand years. Of course, they were upset by the situation. Anyone could pass away at any time.
Once, those yellow bugs who had survived gathered for a Council to discuss the issue of survival of their species. They were thinking about it for a long time and came to the conclusion that all the bugs needed to change their color: someone suggested green color to blend in with the grass, but after thinking about it again, they changed their minds - after all, they fly, and not just crawl on plants. Many different colors were suggested. They argued for hours on end, and finally decided to settle on blue. When they all rose to the sky, everyone would think that those creatures were not ladybugs at all, but that it was just the sky - blue-blue sky. And there were many blue flowers growing on the ground. The birds would not guess anything, and the bugs would remain alive.
They started voting. Those who voted in favor of blue color, flew off in one direction, and those who voted against - in the other direction. The majority were for the blue color. While they were voting, a wind blew and scattered the bugs in different directions. But they flew away with peace of mind.
A new spring came. The mother-bugs, as usual, laid yellow eggs. Every day they watered their would-be children with blue nectar collected from blue flowers. The mothers worked hard. Finally, larvae hatched from the eggs. Predictably, the larvae were different from those that appeared before. They were green-blue, but, as always, incredibly ravenous. They greedily ate aphids, spider mites, whiteflies... and grew not by the day or the hour, but by the minute. Soon they turned into sky-blue bugs.
The bugs rose into the sky and blended in it. A very huge cloud of blue bugs formed. That cloud completely covered the sun, in a way that all the animals were scared. The sky was blue, not a single cloud, and there was no sun. The bugs flew across the sky and rejoiced at their transformation. But out of nowhere and completely unexpectedly, wind started blowing, scattering the blue cloud in different directions. The sun immediately appeared in the sky, which made everyone very happy. The bugs, having flown across the meadows, gardens, steppes, crawled across the leaves, but the birds continued… to peck them as before. So, by the end of the summer, there were very, very few of them left. The situation repeated itself exactly as it had happened many, many times before.
And so, the Council met again. This time it was suggested to change the color of the bugs to red. ‘It's the color of fire!’ they decided. ‘The birds might be afraid of the red color, just as they are afraid of fire, and will stop eating us?’
In the spring, the mothers laid eggs again. They were yellow, as before. But this time the mothers watered them with the nectar of red flowers. Bugs of such an unusual color appeared, such as no one else in the world had. They were purple-red. However, the birds continued to eat the poor bugs just as they had once eaten the yellow and blue ones.
The bugs were very worried about the misfortune, but in the end, they reconciled themselves to their lot. The situation went on for many, many years, maybe a hundred, or maybe even a thousand years.
Then one day a very unusual bug was born among them. In appearance the bug was similar to all the others: in body, and the mouth part, and color. And he was different from everyone else in that he was lazy to the point of being ugly. He was born on a leaf where there were aphids everywhere. There was no need to fly anywhere in search of food. He spent the whole day eating those aphids and resting either on the leaf or under it. He was so lazy that he was too lazy to even clean his legs, nose, and belly. His entire back was covered in dirty black spots.
His legs were so dirty and sticky that all sorts of nasty stuff stuck to them. Over time, he even stopped hiding from the ravenous birds so that they wouldn't eat him. Other bugs avoided him, and if they had to pass by, they tried not to breathe in. He smelled so bad.
However, somehow that bug managed to survive until autumn, while his brethren were already dead because the birds had pecked them.
No one liked this stinking slob. And they decided to punish him. After all, he was a disgrace to the whole family!
A new Council was assembled to discuss the lazy guy's behavior. While he was being judged, dressed up, scolded, shamed, the bug lay down on a leaf and indifferently listened to those who were diligently scolding him. He thought: ‘Why are they trying to find fault with me? I don't interfere with anyone's life, I don't take away any aphids, everyone has enough space...’
Suddenly a flock of sparrows flew in and started pecking the bugs. Only a few were saved, those that managed to hop into the thick grass and hide. And the sloth didn't even move, didn't even move his leg. He was too lazy, remember?
It was getting dark. All the birds, having eaten their fill for the day, were already resting. All the surviving bugs gathered together to discuss the incident and saw that the bug was still resting on the leaf.
They became thoughtful about it. What's the secret? Maybe it's because this lazy guy smells bad? Maybe this is the mystery of why the birds don't touch him? But how can you make sure that both the legs and wings are clean and smell so that it's unpleasant for the birds?
They thought about it for a very long period, and finally came up with their own unusual security mechanism. They came up with something that no one else had ever had - a special odorous liquid that, when it gets into the mouth of a predator, burns its entire mouth like fire. The bugs decided to hide the liquid in a special pouch on their hind legs. When walking, it comes out of their legs, leaving a milky-orange odorous trail. At first, the birds pecked the bugs, but after that they got headaches and stomach aches, and their wings did not obey at all. It should be noted that by that time many insects of the same red color as our bugs had appeared in nature - their "outfit" was too beautiful and unusual. Something had to be done so that the birds could distinguish one from the other. And then the resourceful bugs found a way out. They again used the experience of the lazy bug that never washed itself and added black spots to their wings so that the birds could distinguish them from other red insects. Gradually, the birds developed an aversion to those spotted bugs and stopped pecking them.
Spiders are also afraid of them. For example, if the spotted ladybug gets into a web, the spider, as usual, hurries to the victim that is stuck to the web. But as it approaches the victim, it understands that that is not the proper food at all, because the smell oozing out from these bugs is terrible. The spider hurries to get rid of the stinking bug and tears the web itself, otherwise no one will even come close to the trap web because of the smell. How the bugs were able to create their poisonous milk, they keep a secret. Now these bugs have become very numerous, and they have flown all over the world. Among them you can find yellow, white, orange, blue, and even black and purple, but always with black spots. And they were called divine ladybugs because since ancient times they have enjoyed honor and respect for the benefit they bring to man, destroying a huge number of harmful insects.
Many peoples of the world even consider them symbols of goodness, well-being and trust.
And they were called ladybugs because, just like real cows, they lactate milk, only of orange color.
Children, seeing a ladybug, sing a song cheerfully:
Ladybug,
Fly away to heaven,
There are your children,
Eating candies.
One candy for every chuild,
But none for you.
So much for the story about an unusual ladybug.
A ladybug is a trustful creature and is not afraid of people. And you, my friend, treat this useful bug well. Let it live and benefit people.