day 19
It has been hitchcockian (hmmm, spellcheck doesn’t seem to think that that is a word, but then spellcheck doesn’t seem to think spellcheck is a word either, nor does it like hmmm, and perhaps capitalized would better, Hitchcockian, but no, it still doesn’t like that, and I guess this is why in the real world there are editors who know all about this) - I really need to start over.
It has been Hitchcockian in the studio today. First there was a massive wave of European Starlings that descended around my windows and landed on the lawn below. I did a standard ‘count by tens’ and came up with something over 200 birds, all chattering away and wrestling and eating something mysterious out of the lawn. I do not know enough about these birds, except that they were introduced to our continent via Central Park and have pretty much taken over the world. They are trash birds and we do not pay attention to trash birds, but really, as a species they are just like us.
But wait, that’s not it: the Hitchcockian madness continues: as soon as the sun hit the windows, there were masses of ladybugs crawling around the panes. Perhaps there are no real references in any Hitchcock films to insects, but you know what I mean. It took them about an hour and a half before they found their way in somehow, and then they spent the rest of the day crawling around the insides of the windows. As I write now, many of them are circling the ceiling lights. It is a little weird in here. Some research turned up the following facts: they are an introduced Asian species that would normally “overwinter in the cracks and crevices of of limestone outcroppings.” So they like white trim and warm places, and will disappear into the walls until spring, and generally do no harm. My info source (Mass Audubon), says that they are not harming the native populations and in fact are pretty beneficial in the war on aphids…
Who knew that under their spotted elytra was a striped abdomen? Not I…
October 20th, 2007 06:44
This “bloom” of the introduced lady bugs is pretty widespread across the state at the moment, and we were talking about it in class Thursday. They are getting in many people’s houses. A few years ago in Mid-October, we had a hike out Gate 35 Quabbin. It was fine on the way out (early AM, cool) but the miles hike on the way back was among and through vast dense clouds of lady bugs. Every time you spoke, they were in your mouth and when your arms swung from walking, you actually felt them in the air hitting your arms. Needless to say we were covered all the time. If you crush or brush them, be sure to sample the smell. Great drawing. Hitchkockesque? Hitchcockandbull?
Mark
October 20th, 2007 08:47
Funny - the NY Times just published an article on ladybugs in Manhattan this morning:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/nyregion/20ladybugs.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
October 20th, 2007 14:37
Have you seen ladybug larvae?
They are quite scary looking!
I didn’t know what they were for the longest time and would react to them as if I’d encountered a poisonous hobo spider… I was embarrassed later that I had such a strong reaction to such a benign creature…
October 20th, 2007 14:38
PS- Your ladybug drawing is beautiful!
October 22nd, 2007 23:07
Hi Catherine,
Sorry to leave this as a comment on your blog, however I could not find an email address on your site. I am trying to track down the artist who published a book on NZ Butterflies in the early 1980’s was this you per chance, I guess there cannot be too many Catherine Hamilton artists that have an obvious interest in nature? If so can you please make contact with me using the email address I have given in this form.
Apologies if I have the wrong person, and yes I agree with Alina, the lady bird beetle illustration is just wonderful
October 23rd, 2007 22:01
Eliza (16 months) picks up dead ladybugs from the window sashes and eats them like popcorn. Mmmmm, crunchy goodness.