The ladybugs, animals of the Coccinellidae family, are known around the world for their rounded reddish body, which also has beautiful black "polka dots". There are many types of ladybugs and each displays unique physical characteristics and curiosities. Do you want to meet them?
In this article on our site we will talk about the different species of ladybugs that exist, mentioning the most popular with theirnames and photos We will also explain if ladybugs bite, what they eat, how to know their age or if they swim. Are you going to miss it? Read on and find out all about ladybugs!
Information about ladybugs
Ladybugs are coleopteran insects, or what is the same, they are beetles with a colored shell and usually black dots. Through this intense coloration they inform predators that their taste is unpleasant, in addition, they secrete a stinking yellowish substance when they feel threatened.
Thus, the ladybugs warn all those who want to eat them that they better take the opportunity to taste something else since they are not going to be as appetizing on their palates. They also use other techniques, such as playing dead, to manage to go unnoticed and stay alive. Consequently, ladybugs have hardly any predatorsOnly some birds or large insects dare to eat them.
In general, ranging between 4 and 10 millimeters and weighing around 0.021 grams, these insects inhabit almost anywhere on Earth, as long as there is abundant vegetation. They come out during the day to carry out their vital activities, where they can be easily seen on the leaves, and in the dark they sleep. In addition, in the cold months they carry out hibernation processes.
In appearance, apart from its colorful "costume", its large, thick and folding wings stand out. It should be noted that these beetles undergo great changes throughout their lives, as they carry out the process of metamorphosis From eggs to larvae and from larvae to adult ladybugs.
They are carnivorous animals, so they generally feed on other insects such as mealybugs, caterpillars, mites and especially, aphids. This turns these beetles into a natural insecticide. They naturally clean our parks and gardens from aphid pests, without the need to use products that are toxic to the environment.
Behaviorally, ladybugs are solitary insects that spend their time searching for food resources. However, despite this independence, the ladybugs come together to hibernate and thus shelter from the cold together.
Ladybug Species
There are many types of ladybugs, in fact, around 5,000 species. Yellow, orange, red or green, with all kinds of patterns and even without them. The variety is immense! Next we will talk about some of the most common species of ladybugs:
1. Seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
This species is one of the most popular, mainly in Europe. With seven black dots and red elytra, this beetle is found wherever there are aphids, such as gardens, parks, natural areas, etc. Likewise, the seven-spot ladybug is distributed in a great diversity of places in the world. In fact, it is the one with the largest distribution area: Europe, Asia and North America.
two. Two-spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
This ladybug stands out in Western Europe and is characterized by having only two black dots on its red body It should be noted that there are some black specimens with four red dots, although they are very difficult to spot in the wild. Like many other species of ladybugs, the two-spotted ladybug is used in many places to control aphid infestations.
3. Twenty-two-spot ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
A vivid yellow color the difference from the others, at the same time that it presents an enormous quantity of points, exactly 22 of black color, darker yellow legs and antennae and a somewhat smaller size than the others, from 3 to 5 millimeters. Instead of eating aphids, this ladybug feeds on the mold that forms on the leaves of many plants. Therefore, its presence in our gardens should alert us that our plants have fungi, which greatly weakens our garden.
4. Black Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
This one stands out for being glossy black with some red, orange or yellow dots, some larger than others. However, the color is quite variable, being able to change over time. It also feeds mainly on aphids and other insects, and is distributed in most of Europe.
5. Pink Ladybug (Coleomegilla maculata)
This beautiful oval-shaped ladybug between 5 and 6 millimeters has six dark spots on its pink, reddish or orange elytra and two large black triangular spots on the back of the head. Endemic to North America, this species abounds in crops and green areas, where aphids abound, since they are great predators of these and other insects and arachnids, such as Mites.
Curiosities of ladybugs
Next, we leave you a list with 15 curious facts about ladybugs:
- Ladybugs are vital for ecological balance.
- Just one specimen can feed on 1,000 prey in a single summer.
- They can lay up to 400 eggs in a single clutch.
- Their life expectancy is around 1 year, although there are some species that can live up to 3 years.
- Your age cannot be differentiated by the number of points you have.
- However, the spots on their bodies fade over time.
- Your sense of smell is in the paws.
- Ladybugs can bite, as they have jaws, but they are not large enough to cause any harm to humans.
- Males are smaller than females.
- During the larva stage, ladybugs are not as beautiful. In fact, they are long, dark, and usually thorny.
- When they are larvae, they have such an appetite that they can even show cannibalism.
- On average, a ladybug flaps its wings 85 times per second in flight.
- Although there are some beetles that can swim, ladybugs cannot survive long if they fall into the water.
- Instead of up and down, ladybugs bite from side to side.
- In some countries, such as Switzerland and Iran, they are a symbol of good luck.
Did you also know that the ladybug is part of the diet of the bearded dragon? That's right, for their part, ladybugs are the food of various species of reptiles, as is the case of the bearded dragon.
