A Chance Meeting: Predator & Prey

[best appreciated at full size against black]

I have discovered that ladybugs and cucumber beetles can be found wandering around on thistle plants, which are now beginning to pop out of the ground all over our meadows. A couple of days ago, I was quietly watching this ladybug and taking pictures when I noticed a cucumber beetle nearby. "Hmmm...I wonder what will happen if these two meet?" You may not know this, but cucumber beetles are herbavores and suck the sap out of plants, though they will sometimes eat aphids. Ladaybugs are predators, and cucumber beetles are something they like to eat. I watched the scene unfold, and as they walked up and down leaves, they got closer and closer, until they made their way towards each other on the same stem. The second they met, they quickly touched antennae and both did a 180 and zoomed away from each other as fast as they could go! Honestly, I was so excited that both pictures I took came out blurry, but happily, this one was perfect! YAY!

I've uploaded two other pictures today and I hope you'll visit them too!

Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :)

NOTE! I have finally updated my profile and I hope you'll take a look to find out a little more about me and how important all of you are to my experience here on Flickr!
www.flickr.com/people/sfhipchick/

This image was taken in March, 2012.