Story: A Conspiracy of Ladybugs
Title: A Conspiracy of Ladybugs
Words: ~550
Written for brigits_flame , March 2010, week 2, Prompt: quixotic
Warnings: ladybugs, please do not read if you're afraid of them. ;-)
Anna suspiciously looked at the small insect in my hand, disdainfully eyeing the black spots on the red wings.
“Did you know that they are trying to take over the world?”
“Who? The ladybugs?”
“Yes. Why does everybody think they are cute when they are actually evil?”
I stared at her. “Why are they evil? They’re just harmless little insects.”
“Harmless?! I can’t believe they fooled you too! They want you to think they are innocent little things, people becoming suspicious makes taking over the world a bit more difficult, you see?”
“Well, perhaps,” I mutter. “But why would they even want world dominion? As far as I can tell, they are quite happy if they have enough aphids to eat and are able to survive the winter.”
Anna furrowed her brow. “Actually, that’s the one thing I’m not quite sure about. I think that they might be getting tired of eating aphids all day long. Would you like to feed on mushy, tasteless, little insects all the time?”
“Not really, but I’m not….”
“See what I mean? Nobody does! I’m sure they want to move on to tastier things, which is why they want world dominion. All the food they could ever want whenever they wish. Tasty cattle, juicy pigs, savory poultry, perhaps even delicious humans....”
“I don’t know… how could ladybugs take over the world? Ants, wasps or even locusts I could understand, but ladybugs!? They aren’t even socially organized!”
“Do you know those yellow secretions they emit if they are disturbed? There is evidence that they are becoming more toxic. Scientists in Mexico found that many axolotl populations are dying and guess what? It always happens in areas in which many ladybugs can be found. It is only a matter of time before more than one species is affected. I don't even want to think about what will happen if they decide to contaminate all freshwater supplies.”
“Are you saying that doom is inevitable because a few amphibians in Mexico are dying?! I can’t believe this!”
“That is only part of the problem,” Anna said gravely. “They seem to have found a way to influence the way people think. As I’ve mentioned before, almost everybody thinks they are adorable. How many children’s books are about these oh-so-adorable pests? How many people would never think twice about killing a cockroach or a fly, but make sure not to step on a ladybug? They pick it up and show it to their children instead. Nobody believes they can do any harm, but they are predators! Nowadays, people pay money to set them free in their gardens, thinking they will have fewer problems with garden pests. They don’t realize that they are causing the real problem.”
“Oh, just stop it, Anna!” I exclaimed, getting annoyed. “I don’t think they’ll do any harm. You may be able to convince others of your crazy theory, but you won’t convince me.”
“Fine!” She said, storming off. “But you’ll be sorry one day and don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
I thoughtfully watched as the ladybug on my hand flew away towards a cluster of other ladybugs.
For a moment, I gazed at the gathering insects. With a laugh, I shook my head. I was being silly, they were only gathering to keep warm during winter, no matter what Anna may believe.
Words: ~550
Written for brigits_flame , March 2010, week 2, Prompt: quixotic
Warnings: ladybugs, please do not read if you're afraid of them. ;-)
Anna suspiciously looked at the small insect in my hand, disdainfully eyeing the black spots on the red wings.
“Did you know that they are trying to take over the world?”
“Who? The ladybugs?”
“Yes. Why does everybody think they are cute when they are actually evil?”
I stared at her. “Why are they evil? They’re just harmless little insects.”
“Harmless?! I can’t believe they fooled you too! They want you to think they are innocent little things, people becoming suspicious makes taking over the world a bit more difficult, you see?”
“Well, perhaps,” I mutter. “But why would they even want world dominion? As far as I can tell, they are quite happy if they have enough aphids to eat and are able to survive the winter.”
Anna furrowed her brow. “Actually, that’s the one thing I’m not quite sure about. I think that they might be getting tired of eating aphids all day long. Would you like to feed on mushy, tasteless, little insects all the time?”
“Not really, but I’m not….”
“See what I mean? Nobody does! I’m sure they want to move on to tastier things, which is why they want world dominion. All the food they could ever want whenever they wish. Tasty cattle, juicy pigs, savory poultry, perhaps even delicious humans....”
“I don’t know… how could ladybugs take over the world? Ants, wasps or even locusts I could understand, but ladybugs!? They aren’t even socially organized!”
“Do you know those yellow secretions they emit if they are disturbed? There is evidence that they are becoming more toxic. Scientists in Mexico found that many axolotl populations are dying and guess what? It always happens in areas in which many ladybugs can be found. It is only a matter of time before more than one species is affected. I don't even want to think about what will happen if they decide to contaminate all freshwater supplies.”
“Are you saying that doom is inevitable because a few amphibians in Mexico are dying?! I can’t believe this!”
“That is only part of the problem,” Anna said gravely. “They seem to have found a way to influence the way people think. As I’ve mentioned before, almost everybody thinks they are adorable. How many children’s books are about these oh-so-adorable pests? How many people would never think twice about killing a cockroach or a fly, but make sure not to step on a ladybug? They pick it up and show it to their children instead. Nobody believes they can do any harm, but they are predators! Nowadays, people pay money to set them free in their gardens, thinking they will have fewer problems with garden pests. They don’t realize that they are causing the real problem.”
“Oh, just stop it, Anna!” I exclaimed, getting annoyed. “I don’t think they’ll do any harm. You may be able to convince others of your crazy theory, but you won’t convince me.”
“Fine!” She said, storming off. “But you’ll be sorry one day and don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
I thoughtfully watched as the ladybug on my hand flew away towards a cluster of other ladybugs.
For a moment, I gazed at the gathering insects. With a laugh, I shook my head. I was being silly, they were only gathering to keep warm during winter, no matter what Anna may believe.