-An Extremely Sad News Item Just Prior To Earth Day-
“If all mankind were to disappear,
The world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium
That existed on it ten thousand years ago.
If all insects were to vanish,
The environment would collapse into chaos.”
Edward O. Wilson
Our natural world grows ever sadder, today
Even lovely little ladybugs, are now, in decline
They’ve joined vanishing bees, butterflies, and bats
Yet, so many foolish humans, think everything is fine
A very sad scientific report about ladybugs, was just issued
Once so very common in our gardens, now becoming so rare
Scientists and biologists have begun a ‘Lost Ladybug Project’
When I was a child in my own backyard, they were everywhere
And, of course, like today’s vanishing bees, butterflies, and bats
No one yet knows for certain, why ladybugs are now fading away
Climate Change, Toxic Pesticides, Modern Day Viruses and Fungi
Despite many doubting human beings, are all potential causes, today
I do know that I now see far less lovely ladybugs around my garden
And, every succeeding summer, I sadly notice fewer and fewer of them
We are blindly marching into the future, without regard for human actions
And I sadly wonder, if lovely little ladybugs, will very soon, meet their end
Coccinellidae (Ladybug) belongs to a family of beetles, known variously as ladybug, ladybird, or lady beetle. The word ‘lady’ in its name is thought to allude to the Virgin Mary.
Ladybugs are considered extremely useful creatures since they feed on aphids and other harmful insects, which are detrimental to gardens, agricultural fields, and orchards. Because they are so useful, colorful, and harmless, coccinellids are typically considered appealing, even by people who hate most of Earth’s truly intriguing and extremely beneficial bugs.
Some people even consider seeing ladybugs, or having them land somewhere on their body, to be signs of extremely good luck to come, and that killing ladybugs presages extremely bad luck.
Our natural world grows ever sadder, today,
Even lovely little ladybugs, are now in decline;
They’ve joined vanishing bees, butterflies, and bats,
Yet, so many foolish humans, think everything is fine.
©Spring 2010, Mr. Ed
Share
Print
Save
Sheila
I echo Connie - "Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home!" T'was what we chanted as kids ...
To JOISEY DEVIL - maybe they think ewe are a GIANT APHID?
Peace - TK.
Cheers,
Dan
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Greed are killing not only the Ladybugs, but all of us with them.
Georg
PS. in a review given to me an author said, "the congressmen should remember that coffins come without pockets"
John
Anna
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( *tears!*
Even now, there are probably a couple hundred dead ones on our basement floor; if the weather was warmer, there would be many more. They seem to have a very short life span. We have to clean them up routinely, and we actually open the windows to let them OUT.
On some hot days, it appears to be raining ladybugs, there are so many swarming in the air outside.
I can't hate them--loved them too long--but they are definitely pests in this area.
"Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home," preferably to Ed's home!
Good poem, though! Connie
God bless,
Lew
Another find contribution, Ed.
May the message of Earth Day resonate far and wide; and may it not be too late.
Blessings,
Carolyn