I know….you grew up calling them “Lady Bugs”, but apparently there is an official bug category, and Lady Beatles are not in it (you go ahead and call them whatever you want). They were named “Lady Beatles” back in the middle ages (400 AD – 1400 AD) when a bunch of farmers in Europe were being overrun with aphids in their crops. They prayed about it and a bunch of red Beatles showed up to eat them and they named them “Lady Beatles” after the Virgin Mary. They are for the most part good because they eat thousands of aphids which are pests in any garden. But when it gets cold, they hibernate (officially it’s called diapause in the insect world). They gather in huge groups to keep each other warm and congregate at the base of plants, on logs, or sometimes inside homes. This is when they become pests. It can be amazing to find them here in Idyllwild in huge groups “wintering over”. They only live about a year or so and use these wintering over group sleep-overs to stay warm and find mates.

Some people on FB have warned residents that what they are seeing are actually “Asian Lady Beatles” and not true Lady Beatles and that the Asian version is bad. Actually, there are over 450 different species and many, including the Asian Lady Beatle have been imported from other countries because they ALL eat lots of aphids which are always pests to gardeners. The Asian version have a little different marking and often different colorings (orange or even beige) but they are no more pests than the red version if they are staying outside and doing their job. As far as biting…all Lady Beatles can bite….they don’t usually, but they can. They can also “bleed” if they are threatened which is called “reflexive bleeding” which means they can squeeze blood out through the joints in their legs to ward off predators from eating them. They are brightly colored to warn predators that they do not taste good!

There is an organization called the “Lost Ladybug Project” that tracks the different species in the U.S. and they welcome everyone’s help. If you take a photo of any Lady Beatle you see, send it into this website to help keep track of the native species. Click here to submit your photos.

One of the funnest facts I found was, in 1999, 4 Lady Beatles were taken into space along with a bunch of aphids to see how predators and prey reacted in zero gravity. The Lady Beatles names? John, Paul, Ringo & George!

Friday Dec. 15th
Art Alliance
Christmas Gift Giveaway
Idyllwild Post Office
1:00 pm

Saturday Dec. 16th
Garden Club Class
“Prepping your garden for winter”
Community Garden
Alderwood St and N. Circle Drive
10 am – 11:30 am

Join Bob Greenamyer for a discussion on how to prep your garden for winter.

Topics will include mulching to keep plants from freezing, draining irrigation systems, tool care and a variety of other gardening tasks that will be discussed or performed. Also, if you want to grow through wintertime, techniques will be discussed.

Saturday & Sunday
Dec. 16th & 17th
Idyllwild Master Chorale
Christmas Concert
Lowman Concert Hall
Idyllwild Arts Campus
Saturday 16th – 7:30 pm
Sunday 17th – 1:30 pm

Saturday Dec. 16th
Live Concert
Rustic Theatre
6:30 pm

Saturday Dec. 16th
Lake Hemet
Light up the Lake
Christmas Boat Parade
6:00 pm

Sunday Dec. 17th
Winter Solstice Celebration
Silver Pines Lodge
25955 Cedar Street
4:00 pm

Monday Dec. 18th
Old Tyme Radio Performance
Rustic Theater
5:00 pm

Thursday & Friday
Dec. 21-22
Kids Christmas Cookie Camp
Town Hall
9am – 5pm

Saturday Dec. 23rd
Meet Santa
Rustic Theatre
12pm – 2pm & 3pm – 5pm

26890 Hwy. 243
951-659-1122

Carrie is looking for a warm and cozy home this winter. If you would consider sharing your home with a loving companion, please come meet her.

Call ARF at – 951-659-1122.

Idyllwild Churches

Body & Soul

Click Here for a list of Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, & Meditation in Idyllwild.

No Dec. 28th Food Delivery this month.
Next Food Delivery Jan. 11th, 2024
Order by Monday Jan. 8th, 2024

MOUNTAIN AID
Need food or other items?
Want to help those who do?
Twice monthly food boxes for every budget.

Pick-up will be at the Camp Maranatha
www.MountainAid.net

All events, venues & programs run by
Idyllwild Community Center

Fit after 50
Free Exercise Class
Town Hall

Mondays
12-pm – 1pm

Tue/Wed/Thur
10am – 11am

Fridays
12-pm – 1pm

Kids After School Program
Mondays – Fridays
2:00pm – 6:00pm

Wednesdays 12pm – 6pm

Al-Anon Meetins
Tuesdays
7:00 PM
Town Hall

Youth Basketball
Ages 7 – 10 & 11-14
Wednesdays
Dec. 6th – Feb. 7th
Idyllwild School Gym
Practice: 4:30 – 5:15
Games 5:15 – 6:00