WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 C HRONICLE - TELEGRAPH PAGE 7 D RAWN TO QUEBEC Have the ladybugs flown away? (Illustrations by Bethann G. Merkle)

Be t h a n n G. Me r k l e thanks to beetles’ habit of Ladybug Project, based at Instead, these crimson little Be t h a n n @q c t o n l i n e .c o m eating aphids. And yet, today, Cornell University in New critters are beetles belonging t might be time to revise this species (Coccinella York state. to the Coccinellidae – the lyr- that childhood rhyme in novemnotata) and its fellow Spotting ladybugs for ic-sounding family of beetles Iwhich we admonish the ladybugs, the two-spotted science known for their vivid scarlet, ladybug to “fly away home.” It ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) For nearly a decade, the yellow, and orange colouring all depends on which species and the transverse ladybug project has collaborated with and striking black (and/or you have on the tip of your (Coccinella transversalis) individuals, teachers and white) spots. finger when you start reciting have practically vanished classrooms, and researchers Also known as ladybirds the poem. Some of Quebec’s from Quebec and most of to photograph nearly 30,000 and lady cows, ladybugs are most recognizable insects the eastern regions of the ladybugs in the wild. The more properly called lady have vanished, possibly due to continent. main objective is to catalog beetles or ladybird beetles. new species taking over. In fact, the nine-spot was when, where, and how many The “lady” in their name Disappearing act thought to be extinct until a ladybugs of various species supposedly comes from the Twenty five years ago, the pair of children in Virginia are seen. Quebecers inter- association pious medieval nine-spotted ladybug was discovered one in 2006. Their ested in helping scientists farmers made between the one of the most common lady find catalyzed entomologists study our local ladybugs can beetles and their prayers beetles in the Northeast. It (insect scientists) to launch visit www.lostladybug.org for to the Virgin Mary for relief was also one of the most a massive effort to find more. simple instructions on how from crop-devouring aphids. economically important, The result was the Lost to photograph and identify Another possible origin for native ladybugs, as well as the common name is Mary’s how to submit your photos to scarlet-coloured cloak, which to store up enough energy loss of agricultural lands, the the database. the beetles share. Regardless reserves for the winter. Like invasion of the multicolored Happily, some of the of religious affiliation, the most of us, local lady beetles Asian lady beetle is likely thought-to-be extinct species Latin word coccineus, the spend the winter right here the main reason why our have been spotted numer- root of their scientific name, in Quebec. once-common lady beetles ous times. However, these means ‘scarlet.’ Incidentally, Nuisance newcomers are now so rare. As if a seem- once-common insects remain we do not have ‘laddie bugs’ These vigorous beetles are ingly dramatic shift towards rare compared to the overall - although there are distinct typically much-appreciated by this species is not sufficient number of sightings. male and female lady beetles, farmers. Alas, little distinc- cause for concern, this is Lady...what? all are referred to as ladies. tion was made between the also the species capable of The smaller-than-a-paper What’s a lady like? benefits of native lady beetles spoiling wine grapes. To add clip insects we commonly call Lady beetles are predomi- vs. Asian species throughout insult to injury, unlike our ladybugs are technically not a nantly carnivorous, and most the 1900s. Particularly in the native species, the newcomer Identifying native lady beetles is fairly easy, thanks to bug at all. This is because ‘bug’ of the ones we’re likely to see 1970s, aphids were devastating does bite humans, can be the online resources of the Lost Ladybug Project (www. is actually a scientific term in Quebec eat aphids and crops across North America, allergenic, and gives off a lostladybug.org). for certain types of insects, aphid larvae. and millions of multicolored particularly unpleasant odour and ladybugs don’t qualify. Lady beetles can live from [sic] Asian lady beetles were when handled. two to three years in their imported to help. Looking for more? natural environments, and Today, despite its scientific Visit this column’s blog females produce hundreds of name – Harmonia axyridis – at www.drawntoquebec.com Matthew Rouleau and Rodeo eggs at a time. Though lady relations between our native for extra sketches from each beetles are generally not lady beetles and their Asian week’s article. This week’s FX special visual effects team harmful to humans, if you cousin are strained. The post includes lots of resources spot them inside your house Asian species is larger, more for how to identify and en- in autumn, it is best to gently voracious, and resistant to courage native lady beetles win an Emmy return them to the outdoors. diseases which it transmits to near your home, along with Ideally, there are no aphids other species. In a word, they great books and materials Ca s s a n d r a Ke r w i n in your home, so setting the are outcompeting the native for teaching children about Ca s s a n d r a @q c t o n l i n e .c o m beetle back outside is the beetles. lady beetles. t the recent 2014 Emmy best way to ensure it is able Indeed, aside from the awards, presented by Athe Academy of Televi- sion Arts and Sciences in Hollywood, team members of Rodeo FX, a visual effect company from Montreal, walked away with statuettes for Outstanding Special and Visual Effects for their work on HBO’s Game of Thrones. Matthew Rouleau led the Game of Thrones special effects team members Adam team through the fourth Photo source Frazier Harrison/Gerry ImagesChazen, North America Eric Carney, Thomas Schelesny and Matthew season’s 150 visual effect Rouleau pose with their Emmy Awards at the 2014 shots. Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Rouleau, with his team Soldiers, generals, gunners and humble cartridge factory statuette. department of Rodeo FX. workers describe their own personal experiences of more than 100 digital art Rouleau, originally Montreal is home to many and visual effect specialists from Cap-Rouge, has an top companies in the field. of 1759-1760, in 1812 or during the World War years. from Rodeo FX, created the arts degree from Université The province of Quebec has Historical stations, artifacts, model designer, activities, and period atmosphere city of Meereen, the largest Laval and a degree from specialized schools, which to the beat of reenactor’s drums, cannon and firearms. of the three great city-states Centre NAD, a renowned renders some of the most in the series. Along with Montreal school for anima- talented and experienced this huge project, they also tion. Since his graduation, artists such as Rouleau and created animated computer he has worked on incredible his team. graphic armies and wolf projects including Broke- The Game of Thrones is sequences, and matte paint- back Mountain, Ironman 2, based on George R.R. Mar- ings, all within six months. District 9, and Enemy, ac- tin’s book series of the same Despite this being their cording to the International name. It is the fictional story first television experience, Movie Data Base (www.imbd. of dynastic struggles among Rouleau successfully led com), his website (www.mat- noble families for the control the team through the 150 trouleau.com) and Rodoe of the Iron Throne. shots, which earned them FX’s website (www.rodeofx. Copy Editor’s note: SEPTEMBRE 7, From 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. an Emmy, an equivalent of com). With such experience, Matthew Rouleau is the FREE / At and around Martello Tower 1 an Oscar but for television. talent and leadership skills, nephew of Catherine Mills- He credits his passionate, he became the Rodeo FX Rouleau, who researches 418 649-6157 / WWW.THEPLAINSOFABRAHAM.CA talented and hardworking visual effects supervisor for and compiles the QCT’s team, even though it is his The Game of Thrones’ fourth weekly Memorials and name, which represents season. Today, he is head Things of Fame column. the studio, engraved on the of the computer graphics