Greenbug eaten by Ladybird
I started modeling some interior details for a store in a 19th century environment I am working on. Among other things glass jars with different vegetable inserts...
When I was done with the dill I realized that it must have some aphids to work more realistic. And to make the aphids also work
more credible, of course there must be a ladybug eating them.
This became the origin of this gripping nature documentary, that tries to focus on the harsh but rarely noticed living conditions of the Greenbug ...
Greenbug eaten by Ladybird - 3D animation
I knew almost nothing about these fascinating little creatures before I started this project. But now I have learned a lot...
Like that they multiply asexually and give living births! (with exception at the end of the season when they are laying fertilized eggs).
They are approx. 2 millimeters in length and live, like wolves, in flocks.
Number of polygons used: 6128 (11 914 tris).
A female can in her lifetime get up to 60 offsprings (=clones by herself) and can, under favorable circumstances, give birth five times per day. Which in turn can begin to reproduce themselves within a weeks time...
This means that one single female can give rise to millions of offspring during a season (which can extend over 20 generations).
Texture maps. PBR metallic workflow
Aphids move slowly and are bad at protecting themselves against enemies. However, through the two tubes on the back they can secrete a sticky defense fluid that rapidly solidifies.
Their main enemies are predatory insects, larvae, birds, and they are a special favorite dish for the Ladybirds...
A ladybird can eat about 50 aphids a day and around 5000 for a lifetime!
In their spare time they like to dance. Something that makes them forget about their otherwise so hard and boring lifes for a while...
I will make a separate presentation of the ladybird later...