Update to my Lady Beetles post: today I brought a better macro lens and got a photo of one of the very small ones. I’ve never noticed the tiny lady beetles before because they’re so small they’re easy to miss or to dismiss as a bit of dirt or dust. This one is about 2mm long. Not sure about the species but I think I’ve got it down to four or five possibilities. My students and I found a few others with slightly different color, size, and shape, but all too small to tell what species without getting them under my microscope and I’m happy to let them live free and wild instead.

A close-up view of a beetle with shiny, colorful spots on its back.