The Ladybug Love-In: A Valentine's Special | Deep Look

Ladybugs spend most of their lives alone, gorging themselves on aphids. But every winter they take to the wind, soaring over cities and fields to assemble for a ladybug bash. In these huge gatherings, they'll do more than hibernate-it's their best chance to find a mate.
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DEEP LOOK: an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Get a new perspective on our place in the universe and meet extraordinary new friends. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
Read more on ladybugs:
ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/02/0...
Where do ladybugs live?
In California, ladybugs spend most of the year on crops in the Central Valley, or on domestic garden plants, feeding on aphids. When the weather starts to turn chilly, however, the aphids die off in the cold. With food becoming scarce, the ladybugs take off, flying straight up. The wind picks them up and carries them on their way, toward hills in the Bay Area and coastal mountain ranges.
What do ladybugs eat?
Ladybugs spend most of the year on crops or on domestic garden plants, feeding on aphids.
Are ladybugs insects?
Ladybugs belong to the order Coleoptera, or beetles. Europeans have called these dome-backed beetles by the name ladybirds, or ladybird beetles, for over 500 years. In America, the name ladybird was replaced by ladybug. Scientists usually prefer the common name lady beetles.
Why are some ladybugs red?
The red color is to signal to predators that they are toxic. "They truly do taste bad. In high enough concentrations, they can be toxic," said Christopher Wheeler, who studied ladybug behavior for his Ph.D. at UC Riverside.
More great Deep Look episodes on biology:
Where Are the Ants Carrying All Those Leaves?
• Where Are the Ants Car...
Watch Flesh-Eating Beetles Strip Bodies to the Bone:
• Watch Flesh-Eating Bee...
Nature's Scuba Divers: How Beetles Breathe Underwater:
• Nature's Scuba Divers:...
See also another great video from the PBS Digital Studios!
It's Okay to Be Smart: Why Seasons Make No Sense
• Why Seasons Make No Sense
If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, In the Bay Area, one of the best places to view ladybug aggregations is Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. Between November and February, numerous points along the park's main artery, the Stream Trail, are swarming with the insects.
www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood
KQED Science: www.kqed.org/science
Tumblr: / kqedscience
Twitter: / kqedscience
Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Deep Look is a project of KQED Science, which is also supported by HopeLab, the David B. Gold Foundation, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Vadasz Family Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Smart Family Foundation and the members of KQED.
#deeplook

[@arwacloud2736]

It's like a massive sleepover

[@user-dl8yo3wv1t]

Arwa cloud you must have some seriously wild sleepovers

[@aarontheperson6867]

and for the aphids its like normal and when they come back its another world war

[@mosshivenetwork117]

Right

[@malayshamorgan3918]

............yeah

[@BARCtrooper01]

That’s not a massive sleepover that’s a massive train 🚂 choo choo

[@vidalifevita8259]

that lady bug that fell from the branch at 2:03, yeah thats me in life...

[@GalaxyDashie]

XD AHAHAH

[@user-gj3pr8xl6i]

relatable

[@skalbagge3131]

You mean 2:02?

[@jeromes6058]

That happened right when I read your comment lol.

[@Loveable_demoncat]

Yep XD

[@greenflower360]

I'm glad that she doesn't have the typical boring or annoying voice that they show in school

[@Jordan_Dossou]

ikr. she's educational and she gives a lot of detail, but not so much that it's overwhelming and we can't watch the video in silence. it's perfect

[@amystanden]

Hey thanks to you both! So glad you enjoy the show.

[@ivydc7001]

Houssam Nasser she is! You can actually see her name at the end credits as narrator/writer.

[@peterbanks2742]

Houssam Nasser m

[@heyits-melanie8443]

its amy she even says it at the end of the video..

[@mrpineapple2938]

this just like game of thrones with all the sex and winter

[@159Fender159]

Needs more murdering, though

[@danielc2530]

We did see them murder those aphids :)

[@danielc2530]

We did see them murder those aphids :)

[@memebiologist975]

Mr Pineapple Netflix & Chill 😂

[@franciscotenorio9162]

Emily 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🔮🎅

[@ConvoBreaker]

I've never seen so many cows together outside of a farm before.

[@tommygun1234567891]

+Elliott Kennerson I thought it was a Futurama reference

[@Mykasan]

me too haha

[@Belemonguin]

Ladycows? It is funny that so many nationalities see cows in those little red bugs. In Russian this bug is called a "god's cow" (bozhya korovka).

[@SolangeAbri]

@@Belemonguin In Argentina, (idk if in other latinoamerican countries as well call them like that, but Spain also does), we call them "vaquitas de San Antonio", wich means "little cows of Saint Antonio".

[@snow6409]

In Bulgaria we actually have some cousins that we call God's cow.(boja krava)

[@caroldanvers989]

at 2:02 a ladybug falls...... poor ladybug

[@scarletsofia7553]

That my life right there

[@lizzie404]

+Skylar Sofia Star-Stryker same

[@Dueilangoisseus]

R.I.P ladybug

[@yourbrother7835]

They can fly...

[@caroldanvers989]

Your Brother WELL TOO BAD IT LOOKED SAD!!! ( im sorry im not mad i was just saying.........pls dont be mad at mehh)

[@crimsonrose]

Whoever is responsible for the photography on this channel deserves an A+! (Elliot and Josh?) Everything on it is beautiful--even more so than the majority of nature programs IMO. Totally going to use these for future classes!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+crimsonrose Thank you very much for the A+. Josh Cassidy and Elliott Kennerson are amazingly talented. Thanks for watching!

[@lantinas]

I Hate ladybug

[@funny-video-YouTube-channel]

*Lady bugs are cute,* which is very nice for them. People like them enough to carry them out of the house, when we find one inside. Spiders and mosquito do not get the same love as as insect :-) Also, some people say that every dot on the lady bug is like one year of life for them, which is probably an urban legend :-)

[@tomnovy3476]

But they have smell to avoid being killed..

[@Mudthewobbledog]

Flies get killed like mosquitos

[@thunderclaws3341]

@@Mudthewobbledog and then crane flies accidentally get killed alongside them :(

[@samanthamartin9254]

epSos.de yes,ladybugs are cute. However,I am afraid of other insects like spiders

[@wither5673]

not true with me, i let spiders hang out in my room to kill other bugs.

[@alex-mk2yx]

love these videos and love the voice of the voice over she speaks so clear and her voice is soothing

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks for watching! Amy Standen is our writer and narrator.

[@amystanden]

Thanks, Allison!

[@alex-mk2yx]

Amy Standen you're so welcome!

[@crystalw8148]

allison dakin yeah!

[@adrianemonaco984]

@@amystanden uu8890

[@DenorrisBanks]

I always use to wonder what those tiny whit bugs were. Id see them all the time on my window seal. Now i know why lady bugs were always in my window as well. Great vid.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

We're glad you watched!

[@bendydemon9882]

they know u are there. and they are gonna get in 😂

[@jinnieverz2154]

My case is prettt similar, i didnt know their actual names i even get to thibk that my mind was trying to mess with me when those green pea were out of nowhere in my arms

[@luciagonzalez7687]

🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞

[@Zurdoelisquierdistam]

Jesus christ

[@DaCoolSpider]

What's funny is that the aphids just like accept their fate when lady bugs are eating them

[@franciscoaguilar6182]

A year is pretty long for a ladybug... dont you think?☺

[@anomalapithecus]

I loved this video. Lady bugs were my introduction to science. I would collect them and watch them for hours then run inside and read all about them I could find and try to see if I could catch them doing the things I had read about. I don't know of anything new about them but observation for that 4 year old was the greatest good. I love nature and have ever sense those days pouring over those little ruddy beasties.

[@anomalapithecus]

Thanks for the Deep Look on them It's such a great show.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+Nix Alexander wonderful! Thanks for watching!

[@hotaru8309]

I feel you. A craze swept over my school after my fascination and ability to catch ladybugs. However, pillbugs were my introduction. We played with them and "Daddy Long Legs" where I was born.

[@skyelouisekowe]

Why isn't this stuff on my TV 📺💖

[@dizzzydanny]

Bradley Kowe ikr

[@withoutname9575]

@Steven you mean machine killer for nature I already know its....

[@didavidaloka5331]

اتي لهلىك

[@noIDEA33439]

No worries, you’ll see those ladybugs in some animated thing and oddly shaped like a human with a yo-yo

[@jessiescott4218]

Miraculous simply the best

[@riko_3784]

jessie scott ON TO THE TEST

[@star_tingover8308]

Husna Reyyan WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

[@riko_3784]

MIRACULOUS THE LUCKIEST

[@star_tingover8308]

THE POWER OF LOVE WONT BE SO STRONG

[@riko_3784]

MIIIRRRRAAAAACUUULOOOUUUS!!!!!!!

[@ariesgonzalezag]

This channel deserves a lot of subs

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you!

[@shadowwolfgamer6732]

MIRACULOUS LADY BUG

[@HuntedBoBo]

...

[@sunnysideofthings]

shadow wolf gamer Late, BUT YES It's why I clicked this lol

[@bork3039]

FINALLY!! Someone knows what miraculous yay

[@wolfblazex]

shadow wolf gamer no stop

[@sunnysideofthings]

The Author WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? He/she needs to keep going.

[@GlitzyIsBored]

Cat noir: I hope M'lady doesn't do these..

[@riko_3784]

Glitzy Studioz hahahaha lol😅😅😅😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@GlitzyIsBored]

@@riko_3784 xD

[@rashaparmar]

😂😂😂😂😂♥️💖

[@rose.4744]

I LITR CAME HERE FOR A MIRACULOUS EDIT PLS

[@monolith9613]

Poorly *YES*

[@calreeGAZA]

My friends and I put two ladybugs, a orange and a red one in a plastic bag filled with grass and leaves and a few tiny sticks and suddenly they just started mating out all of a sudden and we started freaking out lol

[@kellyceleste6089]

Chat noir :IM IN HEAVEN!

[@TwinkiesPiano]

MiRACUlous, SImPly tHe bESt up T

[@mizmartini]

Ladybugs: “Let’s have a one-millionsome!”

[@maemallabo280]

these are honestly the best things ever

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you, Mae! What should we film next??

[@maemallabo280]

It would be super cool if you guys could film something involving cancer or genetic variation! We are learning this in AP Bio right now, and it would be so cool if I could share it during class :).

[@ChiChi-ll3jt]

"They lift off the ground like little helicopters" 😪😍💕

[@pisangberpusingkemanadah4898]

Aw. They look adorable tho

[@samanthamartin9254]

pisang berpusing ke mana dah yes they are adorable

[@kaheichan9]

wouldn't hibernating all together be risky for a species? like what if there's fire and the entire species were in the same place?

[@pan1300]

ka hei chan well then.... Their screwed.

[@GamesFromSpace]

It's not the entire species in one tree. That would be ridiculous, and a very very big tree.

[@mancheaseskrelpher8419]

They're bright red because they exude bad-tasting chemicals, remember? Since predators tend to steer clear of them, they can overwinter together for warmth.

[@unoriginal1086]

ka hei chan different populations are in different spots.

[@plokijum]

ka hei chan That gives me an idea

[@hamids4550]

Your videos are amazing! Keep posting please

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Absolutely! Thanks for the love!

[@riko_3784]

IT’S LADYBUG! I LOVE MIRACULOUS

[@taboobunny9186]

a swarm or mass of moving entities always make me feel disgusted.....is this some sort of a phobia?

[@reactiegever1986]

Taboo Bunny probably

[@1inette]

Taboo Bunny SAME

[@gavinp6565]

fear, not phobia. They're not interchangeable terms

[@kennymartin5976]

Taboo Bunny Phobia is too strong a word, if it was a phobia you would have tossed your device clean across the room as the video played.

[@gavinp6565]

thank you; someone finally understands

[@mujhee001]

The narrator's voice is so soothing. I could blend in.

[@kimbratton7054]

wow, thousands of ladybugs working together harmoniously!

[@PeeperSnail]

Miraculous, simply the best Sleeps in a group when things go cold

[@MotorsportGigantoraptor]

Fantastic Work !

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you!

[@Rakhilya]

love love love your videos. Please keep them coming. Was always more interested in what's not easily seen to a naked eye.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks for the love!

[@chianmohammed]

😐

[@journeystyles2747]

Ladybugs are the one bugs I can tolerate. They're kinda cute?! Lol

[@danisparkles8503]

I'm watching this for school and it's like a Town of Ladybugs

[@queenofants2385]

Ladybugs Are Such Cute Animals.

[@Kyle-qe2vd]

"this YEARLY gathering is a once in a lifetime event" lol

[@Trickyboy1337]

It is once in a ladybug lifetime

[@momoproductions3430]

My two years old son is obsessed with lady bugs and likes to watch this video over and over 😂

[@riwoosbf]

These lady bug are amazing little guy , i hope they survires all ladybugs generation !!!🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞

[@thephysicsguy181]

I don't understand how you can get such high production value out of such topics and make me as an engineer watch every single video in the channel. Extraordinary job!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+Emir Ersoy Thank you for those kind words!

[@halloweencoco2521]

2:29 thats my mom on a Friday night right there xD

[@okamijubei]

Ah, never seen ladybugs bunch up like that since my childhood

[@robertosnow3841]

I've seen this! We were tiny kids couldnt walk past without squishing some. There was millions.

[@grassification]

End of 2:02 a ladybug falls. "Dang it, now I have to climb over even more ladybugs!"

[@ipurplebts2876]

i love Ms. Amy voice.

[@immanuelweaver4522]

I love Ladybugs their awesome.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

We agree!

[@softiejungkookiexobts6462]

A LADYBUG SHAT ON MY HAND ONE YEAR AGO NOT GOING TO PICK THEM AGAIN

[@jlauralee]

how about one on springtails and other creatures that inhabit moss

[@YNoted]

Me and the boys:

[@adedoyinemeonye4647]

I love ladybugs!!!🐞

[@keatonblackman472]

Cute Ladybugs.

[@xxxjusticexxx3622]

Rest.In.Peace ladybug 2:02 - 2:03

[@totoplopp6630]

LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH

[@sujitpati9398]

Dhjgfhvhdhkpo

[@arshiya2017]

this ladybird r so loving🤗 love d crisp crisp noises they make in this video...

[@areal4456]

"Tikki! Spots on!"

[@soumyea]

Omg I'm binge watching these videos! They're amazing btw:))

[@radarred4529]

Tikki, Spots On!

[@mlsas02]

Me on life cycle of ladybug : disgusting Me in this video: AWWW SO CUTE

[@perzeusalvarado1205]

Spider: FEAST TIME Also Spider: HATE THISSSS

[@hooloovoo666]

I think it would be neat to have an episode on bacteria or other microorganisms!

[@AMcAFaves]

I'd love to see this too.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@mamboo0743]

No i don't want it too yucky and nightmarish

[@Samboy1135]

When a bug gets more action than you...

[@avarose8880]

Every 6 year would be like shook to the core if they saw this happening

[@LinkBeats15]

I keep lady bugs in my millipede terrarium. They love eating the mites. I also keep the usual clean up crew (Isopods & springtailes)

[@YoungTheFish]

Salute to Josh Cassidy and Elliott Kennerson for the amazing cinematography. This channel never fail to amaze me with its beautiful visual presentation.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+YoungTheFish Thanks so much for the compliment! They are incredible filmmakers.

[@crewmatewillthrowthesehand7600]

Its so amazing... Its almost miraculous... ladybug.

[@TheRomanZolanski]

I love ladybugs. I think It's awesome how they clean up the plants by eating aphids and mites. They're really cool bugs actually. I love that they lift off like little helicopters over the garden and the city towards the Mountains.

[@TwesomE]

Lady bugs are one of the most ferocious instects,they eat almost anything dead as well as i have read!

[@enmamallqui4786]

Now I feel kinda bad for flushing that ladybug down the toilet that one time

[@thomasdantas]

Cool adaptation. You can see this same behavior in H. convergens east of the Mississippi as well.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thanks for watching!

[@DumpsterJuiceee]

Lady bugs are our friends . The only bugs we should trust .

[@jezylsebastian936]

I just found this channel 1 week ago. I must say I am very impressed of the video quality, the narration, and the audio. I love this so much.

[@cryptonicgamer227]

Ahh I knew I wasn't the only Miraculous ladybug fan. Wait. This isn't for lady bug? Ok then.

[@Kh-gb5mg]

Cameraman after 2 days be like : why there's a ladybug on my leg😅

[@wrintconcrow9176]

I think I’ve learned more about life from random KZbin recommendations than I have in my 11 years of schooling.

[@thatgurloverthere1985]

Her voice is calm

[@McMaster1471]

*_B U G O R G Y_*

[@MrChaluliss]

i dont think you already have but sloths, sloths are like the perfect blend of plant and animal. plannimal

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Sloths are awesome. Thanks for watching us!

[@sandromariano1149]

If you have aphids, call the ladybugs snd they eat away since the aphid weakness is a ladybug

[@HabboMewMew]

Adrien falls asleep to this video every night.

[@Eszra]

Okay Ladybugs are officially the coolest bug next to some butterflies. They eat bad bugs, then when it's cold they all go to one spot for a massive winter sleepover, only to wake up, get it on, and then go off to finish their remaining lives. That's so cute!

[@saulthechicanootaku]

Eszra Is it why they were the inspiration for a certain French superheroine?

[@Eszra]

Please don't mention that show. I just can't stand it. Though yes it more then likely is the reason.

[@ninabean4857]

I love ladybugs!!

[@mariagracemorales9163]

This got recommended to me 6 days before valentines what? Lol

[@dog_strikes_again1452]

Aww those ladybugs are so cute it really sucks that they only live for a year 😭😭😭

[@amalmohan6982]

Love it. One suggestion: longer videos?

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+Amal Mohan Thanks for the love and suggestion!

[@AHibbs-tu7ks]

Great episode! I'm so glad you all are back in full swing. Of course your visuals are beautiful and surprising and really make me slow down to look closer. I also appreciate the sound. It's subtle, but there's something beautiful, not creepy, about the little clickyclack of their feet/bodies/wings. These sounds make me feel like I'm not a giant human but actually tiny like they are, with a completely different perspective on the world.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+A. Hibbs Wow, what awesome compliments! We're so glad you feel this way.

[@yyliu9459]

I swear if I accidentally pick up one of the tree trunks their hibernating in...

[@bumfart8921]

I saw this happening at camp, it was amazing

[@skyy9655]

No one: Litterally no one: Me: *MiRAcoLoUs LadYbUg* Edit: Just hi

[@hashemmehyar9614]

Underrated channel, you've gained a loyal subscriber :)

[@sethbell5496]

That's a LOT of good luck.

[@barrickfischer]

No wonder they're a gardener's best friends when spring sets in. Thry chow down on aphids

[@goncaloteixeira8009]

I absolutely love these videos that explore in such great photographic detail the worlds of insects and other miniscule creatures. Marvellous work, keep at it :)

[@KQEDDeepLook]

+Gonçalo Teixeira Awesome! Thanks so much for the kind words.

[@ulilulable]

This is soo cool! I'm so glad I found you guys.

[@BentleyS6336]

Ladybugs once covered my house. Front door was totally blocked. Ngl I think it gave my little sister PTSD because she breaks down into tears and screams, kicks, fights, totally having a breakdown at the sight of even a dead one. Total panic. It's strange

[@saragurung4453]

I remember there was a ladybug in my house on the wall. I was like "first time to see you, ladybug"

[@Jenna_Toules]

I want to know about any mosquito studies that exhibits the benefits it could have in our ecosystem. If that's too trivial, I'm also interested in the differences of developmental process between alligator eggs and bird eggs.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

We are hoping to cover mosquitoes soon! Thanks for sharing!

[@gabrielaquiros1966]

+Deep Look Yes, we will!

[@Jenna_Toules]

+Deep Look That's really nice and I appreciate the response. I like how in a lot of your videos, you show how an organism's bizarre ability will not only benefit the organism but to us humans as well. I love understanding interconnections, no matter how big or small.

[@gabrielaquiros1966]

+Mav 41 I think that we'll find that mosquitoes don't benefit humans. Quite the opposite. Thank you very much for watching!

[@Jenna_Toules]

That's a shame :(, I still look forward to seeing it . I understand that malaria has caused the most human deaths since the stone age but I don't understand the disagreement of eradicating the mosquitoes. I did listen to a Radiolab about mosquitos and heard that arctic mosquitos pollinate orchids and that mosquitos must have played a role in discouraging settlement in the rain forest. But as far as the ecological impact of a world without mosquitoes it remains unclear.

[@goodasgoing]

Love the Ladies... And, presumably, some gentlemen in their too :-)

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Indeed.

[@MegaMindyLou]

Our ladybugs that inundate us here in south Texas are yellow with black spots. They get everywhere! Now I know they are just looking for a cozy spot for the winter. Thanks for the awesome videos.

[@veravanessa19]

I like ladybugs 🐞 they are so cool