Thursday, November 5, 2009

Ladybug, Ladybug

Nearly ALL cultures believe that a Ladybug is lucky. Killing one is said to bring sadness and misfortune.


So, given the work environment and economic conditions, I'm okay about welcoming a few into my office this fall. For the last several weeks my metal mini-blinds have been "tink-tinking" with every lifting and landing of a friendly polka dotted beetle.

This is likely the only insect I can say I welcome. I don't mind if they crawl across my hand, or my keyboard, and no shiver up and down my spine that spiders, ants, bees, and other bugs can induce.

Currently there are about 6 crawling on and around my window. Once in a while, I try to move them onto the friendly green leaves of my plants, but they tend to prefer the window glass, blinds, and papers on my desk.

I would not, however, be so welcoming if the numbers grew to the thousands I read about in Washington and Maryland.
And we might have to revisit that legend about sadness and misfortune.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's odd, isn't it, how we 'like' certain insects, but loathe others. Aside from ladybugs, I'm partial to bees (honey and bumble), dragonflies, butterflies, and mantises.

Mama Lou said...

Remember your condo each Fall??
I, too heard about all the infestations on our radio and one suggestion was to put mothballs in an old stocking and hang outside your window--now isn`t that a great addition to your decor??

Anonymous said...

Lucky you to have such fun office mates!

Melissa said...

We had a bad case of ladybugs two years ago - I let them multiply until I heard that too many can cause allergy/asthma issues so I brought out the vac and sucked them up. Our houseguests had overstayed their welcome!

Suburban Correspondent said...

I didn't even notice them. The stinkbugs, however...yuck!

Swistle said...

I feel the same way about ladybugs. They seem...friendly. Companionable.