Redwood Regional Park in Oakland is an incredible redwood grove in Oakland. I wrote about it a few years ago here. And now…ladybugs!
Bay Nature magazine, a Bay Area natural journal, recently wrote an article about these winter clusters of ladybugs. They say, “Convergent ladybugs—among the most common of California’s 175 native ladybug species—have overwintered in groups of as many as hundreds of thousands in the Bay Area hills, clustering together on vegetation or rocks.”
In fact, local Jeremy Brautman maintains an elaborate “Ladybug Hotel” — check out his website for amazing facts about this structure and ladybug habits.
Bay Nature notes that groups of ladybugs often form in the same general site for generations, spending the winter in mild hibernation, moving slowly and rarely eating as they wait for temperatures to warm again in late winter or early spring.
Well, you can go see them for yourself.
Each year from December to February, Oakland’s Redwood Regional Park gets thousands, if not millions, of these little red visitors.
Your hike to the ladybugs starts at the Skyline Gate. Take the Steam Trail on the left where it meets Prince Trail.
From Skyline Gate, the Stream Trail gently goes down and eventually gets flat again.
Just over half way there you meet an open grass area with a few picnic benches and a grove of sequoia trees. Keep going and keep an eye out on the side of the path where you’ll see dozens of bunches of ladybugs.
Pack a magnifying glass so your kids can get an up close look at these marvelous insects but try to encourage them not to touch.
Before going back up, look at your clothes and shoes to check if you have a stowaway ladybug. Going back to the car is a little more strenuous. Remember that grove? Take a break there and fuel up for the trip back up.
All in all this hike is about 2 miles. At the parking lot at Skyline Gate there is a bathroom.
