-
Access by Shuttle Bus Only
Starting May 24, 2013 all access to the most visited part of the park, Frijoles Canyon, will be via a mandatory shuttle bus from the nearby community of White Rock from 9 AM - 3 PM daily. Private cars may drive in before 9 AM or after 3 PM. More »
Ladybugs
Most ladybugs are red with black spots. Photo by Sally King Several species of ladybugs (or Ladybird Beetles) are commonly seen in the park. All during the summer and even late into autumn, ladybugs can often be seen on plants along the Main Loop Trail. A ladybug's favorite food is aphids, which can be destructive to some plants. Because ladybugs reduce the population of this potentially harmful pest, ladybugs are often seen as beneficial. Although ladybugs are most often red with black spots, they can vary in color. Some don't have any spots at all. 
Ladybugs become mobile and hungry when they reach the larval stage. As with adults, their favored food is aphids. Photo by Sally King Like many insects, ladybugs go through several stages during their life. They start as eggs, which are usually laid within an aphid colony that provides a bounty of food as the insect moves through the subsequent stages. The larval stage is next. During this stage the the ladybug becomes mobile and starts to eat aphids. The third stage is the pupa stage (similar to a butterfly in its cocoon) from which an adult ladybug (the fourth and final stage) emerges. 
In the larval stage, ladybugs look very different than in the adult stage.
Photos by Sally King
|
Did You Know?
A drink that tastes a lot like lemonade can be made from the berries of the Three-leaf Sumac. From this, the bush gets its common name, the Lemonade Bush.