This is a ladybug pupa hanging ‘upside down’ from it’s anchor point on the fence. I like the image because one, it’s funky looking, and two, it’s not the typical top-down shot of ladybug larva. Apparently, they’re not black/orange on their underside. :)
This ladybug had recently “hatched” from it’s pupa shell and was still gathering its energy.
On the backyard fence underneath a sappy tree, there are currently a lot of ladybug larvae running around, eating aphids and eventually turning into pupae so they can become ladybugs. As I was watching them scurry over the fence boards, I was witness to an adult ladybug catching an aphid…and a second later, an impudent larva waltzed right up and tried to snatch it away. There was a bit of a tug-of-war for the tasty morsel. After several seconds, the larva lost his grip, gave up, and the adult ladybug continued her meal in peace.
