Imperfection Doesn’t Keep this Ladybeetle from being Beautiful
![This little lady bug (lady bird) has a damaged wing coverlet, but seems otherwise undamaged.](https://i0.wp.com/whatnext10.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/67DBEF8D-7F47-4742-AA7A-B143410157A5.jpeg?resize=965%2C1024&ssl=1)
One afternoon, while I was photographing flowers, I discovered this little multicolored Asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis), crawling among the surrounding plants. It was quite obvious that she had a damaged wing, and I was concerned about her ability to fly, but she proved very quickly that the wing itself was completely undamaged. Ladybeetles and many other beetles have elytra, which are a hard shield that covers the delicate wings when they are folded. Obviously, its job is to protect the wings since a flightless beetle is a dead beetle. I’m not sure how this ladybeetle got injured, but what ever happened, she is still thriving and will hopefully survive long enough to reproduce, thanks to her elytra.
![A pretty little lady bug (or lady bird) crawls over the leaves on a plant.](https://i0.wp.com/whatnext10.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/D490AD74-8BCC-4A73-A141-640B9247F094.jpeg?resize=922%2C1024&ssl=1)
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