gallusgallusdomesticus's Identifications

Link to Thistle host plant observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208645365

Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is a flying insect in the Oblong Lady Beetles (Hippodamia) genus. This species has two distinctive converging white lines on forehead (pronotum). The number of black spots is variable. It is one of the most common lady beetles in North America and is found throughout the continent. Lady Beetles are helpful for the biological control of aphids-- their main diet.

The key to assessment of Lady Beetles is to see and photograph the front end to see the patterns on the head and pronotum (in front of the wings).
Lady Beetle Key for North America https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Ladybug&cl=llp

Link to observation of thousands of ladybugs, crawling over each other in one huge clump. It's called an aggregation, and it's something these usually solitary beetles do each winter from about November to February. Scientists believe ladybugs aggregate to regulate their internal body temperatures, share mates, enhance their defense, and share resources. Inside these aggregations, movement is disorderly rather than hierarchical, like a beehive or ant hill would be: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/190970464

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. Eaton and Kaufman, 2006, p. 154.

Bug photographs from the U.S/Canada for I.D https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Hippodamia+convergens

Helpful Taxonomic chart of Coccinelloidea, that includes Lady Beetles. Coccinelloidea is a superfamily of beetles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinelloidea

Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)
Taxonomic chart of Cucujiform Beetles. Cucujiformia is an infraorder of polyphagan beetles that represent most plant-eating beetles. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/372852-Cucujiformia

The infraorder contains 7 superfamilies:

Chrysomeloidea (~7 families including longhorn beetles and leaf beetles)
Cleroidea (checkered beetles, bark-gnawing beetles and soft-winged flower beetles)
Coccinelloidea (15 families, includes LADY BEETLES and fungus beetles)
Cucujoidea (~27 families)
Curculionoidea (~8 families primarily consisting of weevils and also including snout beetles and bark beetles)
Lymexyloidea (ship-timber beetles)
Tenebrionoidea (formerly "Heteromera") (30 families including blister beetles and ant-like beetles)

I believe this spider made a hideout in my portable solar panel while it was folded up. Is this just their bed where they were sleeping, or did they put eggs here that will hatch? In other words, can I safely clean this construction off now that the spider is out and about, or does my solar panel need to live outside now so baby spiders won't take over my house?

Note yellow eyes & lores; long, heavy yellow bill; white forehead, crown and throat; broad black eyestripe that extends from above eye to back of crown; crest plumes; pale gray upper back and hindneck; blue-gray lower back and upperwings; brownish-yellow legs.

Saipan Is. Note unmistakable distinctive coloration: bright green body, orange belly, bright silver neck and chest, and striking magenta forehead. Sadly, this species has been extirpated on Guam. At least one conservation organization ranks the Mariana Fruit Dove among the most endangered bird species on earth. This rare species has some of the most beautiful plumage colors.

https://earth.org/endangered-bird-species/