The other day, while walking around, exploring the garden, I happened upon a ladybug sitting on a leaf on the black currant bush. Upon first glance I thought the ladybug was alive, but looking more closely I could see that it was unmoving and probably dead. Next I noticed a bruised, wet spot on its back, and moving in closer still I could make out two clusters of tiny, cream-coloured shapes emerging from out of it. I was not able to tell with the naked eye whether the things on its back were eggs or tiny larvae, so I quickly ran inside to grab my camera with macro lens. What I saw when I was able to go in close is like something out of a B horror flick. The ladybug had been parasitized, most likely by a wasp and the things on its back were the eggs. Blow up this scene to human scale and the potential for an all too real monster movie practically writes itself.
Spring is here and the garden has come alive. A…
