And then there were none

I periodically check on the aphids on the pine tree and have been keeping track of one colony in particular.  In early November, this colony was growing rapidly.  However, after reaching a peak of nine aphids, the colony went into decline.  It lost one then another of its three adults, leaving just one adult surrounded by a few juveniles.

The dwindling colony of aphids.

A few days later, all the aphids of the colony were gone.  They may have succumbed to the cold and wind, or perhaps to something even more sinister. 

A seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) on the pine tree.

Although I haven't seen any ladybugs (such as the one pictured above) on the pine tree for the last few weeks, I have caught glimpses of a few camera-shy spiders on the branches.  I also found one aphid that was missing a leg, perhaps as a result of being attacked by something.

An aphid missing its hind right leg.

Clones in a row

Pine needles are tough and don't seem like they should be very appetizing.  Nevertheless, after my close encounter with a western conifer seed bug, I decided to start paying more attention to the pine tree in the backyard.  In one of my searches, I found a needle that had been colonized by aphids.

Five aphids on a pine needle.

These aphids can pierce through the pine needle to feed on the sap.  Despite the apparent difficulty of feeding on a needle, they seem to be doing quite well.  When I first found this group of aphids, there were five of them.  When I went back to check three days later, they had already produced three more clonal daughters!

Eight aphids on the pine needle.

The decoy

After finding three praying mantises last week, I have been hoping to find one or more of them again.  Praying mantises will hide in order to ambush their prey; thus, I have been scanning plant stems more carefully than usual.  Although I haven't had any luck finding the praying mantises, I did manage to find another inconspicuous insect -- a western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis).

From the side, the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) can easily be overlooked.

It is more obvious when seen from above.

While I was watching the bug pictured above, I suddenly had the feeling that something had fallen into my hair.  I instinctively flicked the object with my hand.  Luckily, I didn't grab the mystery object -- since it turned out to be another western conifer seed bug.  Though these bugs don't bite, they can release a noxious odor, similar to that of a stink bug.

The bug was initially knocked to the ground, but it recovered quickly and took flight.  I followed it until it landed in a nearby pine tree, which is one of its host plants.

A western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) on a pine tree.