John Acorn

John Acorn is a writer, broadcaster, and entomologist. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife, Dena, and son, Jesse.

Ladybugs of Alberta
Finding the Spots and Connecting the Dots

John Acorn

"Despite what many people think, little ladybugs don't grow up to be big ladybugs." —John Acorn

Everybody loves a ladybug and no one is more passionate about the dotted creatures than John Acorn, who has produced the first regional field guide for North American ladybugs. With color photographs and illustrations on 70 different species, Acorn guides readers in their discovery of the rare and unique ladybugs that may be found in Alberta. The author also explores the effect that both humans and introduced species have on ladybugs' habitat and survival. Whether a bug-loving kid, nature- walk enthusiast, or a professional entomologist, readers will find ladybug identification to be both easy and fun.

Reviews

"'Ladybugs are one of Alberta's most charismatic species for a simple reason,' says biologist John Acorn. 'They're simply cute!'....More specifically, ladybugs have rounded contours, short legs, big eyes and wonderful colour patterns....Between species, ladybugs vary - most are red with black spots but others are black, orange, pink and yellow in colour. And their names, such as the lugubrious ladybug, the twice-stabbed ladybug and the poorly known ladybug, are just as diverse. Acorn's book is filled with information about each and photos...."
- folio

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"Hercules, blotch-backed, twice-stabbed, once squashed and flying saucer. The names are as evocative as they are unusual and an interesting if not surprising factoid in the world of the insects we know as 'ladybugs'.... After reading Acorn's newest book, number three in his Alberta Insect Series, it is impossible to walk away thinking that the red ladybugs with the distinctive black dots are the end-all be- all of ladybugs. While they may be the more common ladybugs found in this region, saying 'seen one, seen 'em all', is so far from the truth it's like saying all alpine wildflowers are the same. In fact, the range and size of ladybugs is staggering. Some ladybugs are tiny, like the micro ladybug at 1.0 millimetre, and about the thickness of dime, while others are massive (at least by ladybug standards), like the wonderfully-named mealybug destroyer at 4.5 mm. They also come in a broad range of colours and patterns, beyond the red-and- black. Some are entirely black or, like the twice- stabbed ladybug, black with a red dot on each wing cover."
- Rocky Mountain Outlook