Saturday, January 16, 2010

Run, it's the dreaded coccinella septempunctata!


   OK, this one definitely lands on the lighter side of life and I figured that maybe we could all use a little something to make us laugh this week...even if it's just a snicker!

Picture it: my 4-year-old is getting dried off from the shower and I'm helping her with the tangles in her hair. All of the sudden she starts this dance accompanied by shrieks of horror. Mind you I say "dance", but really mean a wild attempt to bolt for the door while I'm still securely attached to the comb in her hair. It is not a successful attempt, and she becomes even more frantic. Clearly, I'm taken aback because we went from happy child to howling maniac girl in 15 seconds flat. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was a world record of sorts.

Anyhoo, I digress. I immediately look at the rug thinking that maybe she just peed in the floor and was outrageously upset about it. Strike one. I ask her if she's hurt herself. Strike two. I tell her to tell me what's wrong, and we hit the mother lode. She points to the ceiling and shows me 2 ladybugs that were circling the light fixtures. All the slasher movie theatrics for damnable ladybugs!

I tried to extol the virtues of these fair creatures and convince her to calm down enough to finish with her hair, but to no avail! It made no difference that they were our friends, would not hurt us, or that they were a fetching shade of red with black polka-dots. It made no difference that they protect certain varieties of edible vegetation that she particularly enjoys on a regular basis. (potatoes and corn)  I was going down like the Titanic and Molly Brown was laughing at me as she rowed toward safety...

As I neared the last tangle, I suggested that it would be best for her use the facilities before putting on her jammies. But no!! That would be the chosen time for the insidious coccinella septempuncata duo to make their attack! How could I be so blind not to see this? Any fool knows they charge in pairs while you're sitting on the toilet. It is obvious now how fortunate I've been to have escaped the bathroom with my life time and time again. I will have to offer a prayer of thanks tonight now that I realize my blessings.

In closing, I regale this tale to serve as a warning to you. Watch out for the ladybugs; they're diabolical fiends with murderous intent. Deal with them swiftly!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hahaha...thats to funny! My reaction was pretty similiar when I realized I was in the shower with a giant wolf spider...now that is the fastest shower I've ever took!!

Jennifer said...

There were millions of them in the cabin in Gatlinburg last year. There was a whole posting on the door about "don't kill the ladybugs" I am sorry but when they smack the light over the dinner table and land in your taders and you think it was a bacon bit....its over, death be unto them.
Oh yea and the dog barks at them too! She can spot them anywhere!

Jen said...

If one fell in my food, I would flip right out! Battle on like like Donkey Kong!!!