At first Forecasters were super confused, because it was a relatively clear day. No rain or thunderstorms were expected. But there it was. Something was creating a giant blob over San Bernadino County.

“The radar was showing there was something out there,” said Mark Moede, a forecaster with the NWS told KCRA. “We looked at the satellite image, but there weren’t clouds that size in the area.”

A Meteorologist on duty called weather spotters in the area to confirm what the radar was showing. Finally, one of the spotters determined the mysterious cloud was actually a giant swarm of ladybugs!

According to the radar, the phenomenon known as a ladybug “bloom,” was flying about a mile above the ground measuring 10 miles wide and 15 miles long.

“In California, the beetles are known to winter in the Sierra and gather in huge masses in valley areas in the spring to feed and mate,” according to KCRA, “usually in the same places year after year.”