Ladybug Swarm Photos in October


When hiking along the Merced River one day in the fall, I noticed these clusters of insects climbing all over each other. There was a rock wall, and they seemed to congregate in the cracks. Here are my ladybug swarm photos from that day…

Ladybug swarm photos - cluster in rock
Ladybug cluster in rock crevice

OK, so I lied. There’s obviously only one image for now, but as I continue with my Yosemite adventures I’m bound to come across more. I will add them then. Haha.

Anyhow, I did some researching to try and understand this behavior. It turns out when the weather starts to cool in the autumn months, ladybugs look for a warm place to hibernate through winter.

I’m not sure how these uber-exposed cracks in the rock are the ideal place, though. I’ve definitely never seen them here in winter. They would be easy pickings for foraging animals.


Preparing For a Cold Winter – Ladybug Swarm Photos


I guess these ladybugs just use trial and error until they find a concealed, protected spot. Then I assume they can pile in on each other to use body heat – to help keep them warm through the snow season.

I’m glad I looked into this, because I’ve always been so curious how other insects survive the freezing winter months. Yellow jackets and ants, for example. I mean, they have to go somewhere, right?

I also read that when the weather finally warms up in the spring, swarms come out and take off all at once. This can create “clouds” of ladybugs so dense, as a matter of fact, that they can actually be seen on radar!

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– Nathan Allen

About Me

Photographer Nathan Allen

I’m Nathan Allen, photographer / creator of YosemiteParkPhotos.com (Yosemite Photos) and international travel site I Dreamed Of This. In truth, I lived in San Francisco, New York, & Singapore…but nothing compares to life in the mountains. I share my experiences HERE.