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10 Amazing Facts About Ladybugs

The first memory I have of a ladybug is when I was strolling around a garden and I remember jumping when one dotted bug was suddenly on my hand, was it harmful? was it going to sting me? it was after all, too cute to do anything else, and it most certainly did not.

We’ve all seen ladybugs, but most people don’t know that they are battles. These little insects come in 5,000 varieties, most of which are quite beneficial. There are so many different types of ladybugs and one thing they have in common is how colourful they are, some have stripes or no markings at all, despite being most famous for being a red insect with black dots.

Apart from looking colourful, here are other interesting facts about ladybugs.

1. They’re not bugs, they’re beetles

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The more appropriate names for these tiny insects are lady beetles or ladybird beetles. The Coccinellidae family of beetles is known as ladybirds in America. While beetles can chew and like to eat plants and insects, bugs have needle-like mouthparts and a diet that consists primarily of fluids.

So while bugs have softer wings or none at all, beetles also have stiff wings. While bugs maintain a similar appearance during their whole life cycle, beetles experience a complete metamorphosis.

2. They can be other colours apart from red and black

Ladybugs don’t all have the red and black dots that the majority of people are used to seeing. The world’s 5,000 ladybird species, including 450 in North America, are all quite different. Though you may be used to the red and black ones (like I totally am) there are other ladybugs that are either yellow, orange, all brown, or pink and surprisingly at times don’t have any markings at all and others simply have stripes. 

3. Its called “lady” as it refers to the Virgin Mary

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The Medieval Ages in Europe was reportedly a time of pestilence for agriculture. Farmers started to pray to the Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother. Farmers soon noticed helpful ladybirds in their fields, and magically the crops were protected from pests. The red and black insects were nicknamed “our lady’s birds” or “lady beetles” by the farmers.

These insects are referred to as Marienkafer, or “Mary beetles,” in Germany. The red colour of the seven-spotted lady beetle is thought to be the first to be called after the Virgin Mary; the black dots are claimed to reflect her seven sorrows.

4. They can live up to 9 months in hibernation

When ladybirds are in a colder environment they tend to get into some sort of insect hibernation instead of migrating. They assemble in large groups to breed just before hibernation in the winter when insects start to disappear which then is always an indicator that the winter season is coming (like John Snow would say “winter is coming”)

During that time, they tend to rely on their fat reserves to sustain them during this time, which can last up to nine months, this keeps them alive until spring. when insects are ready to come out again. 

5. Ladybugs live up to only a year

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When a group of brightly yellow eggs are placed on branches close to food sources, the ladybird life cycle begins. They hatch as larvae in four to ten days, spend about three weeks fattening up, and the earliest arrivals may eat some of the unhatched eggs. They will start to develop a pupa once they are well-fed, and after seven to ten days they will arise as adults. The insects normally have a lifespan of one year.

6. Their beautiful colours act as a deterrent

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Ladybugs don’t just have spots and bright colours for show. These are intended to alert potential attackers that this insect tastes awful. In addition to their warning colours, ladybirds have another line of defence: when frightened, they release foul-smelling blood from the joints of their legs. What most people don’t know is that this yellow liquid is usually quite poisonous. 

Ladybugs are known to pretend dead when all other defences fail, giving them a third line of defence in a world where everything is either eat or be eaten. Despite all of this defence, ladybirds can occasionally be eaten by some species of insects, including spiders, assassin bugs, and stink bugs.

7. Ladybugs sometimes eat their own eggs 

Throughout a single season, female ladybirds can lay up to 1,000 small, golden eggs, but not all of them hatch into adult ladybirds. When there is a lack of prey, ladybirds will occasionally devour the eggs and larvae even though they prefer to lay their eggs on aphid-covered leaves. In fact, ladybirds prepare for supply shortages by laying infertile eggs when food is in short supply in order to feed their young.

8. They have hidden wings

Similar to butterflies, ladybirds undergo four stages of transformation before finishing. They begin as microscopic eggs, which then develop into larvae that look like small, spiny alligators. The next phase, the pupal stage, lasts for around two weeks. In the last stage, they change into adult ladybirds and then their wings sprout.

A shell, known as the elytra, covers the forewings of adult ladybirds, giving them an unmistakable smooth dome shape. A pair of thin rear wings that are much larger than the ladybug’s body is hidden beneath the outer shell. These wings open up quickly—in only 0.1 seconds. The rate of movement of the unfolded ladybird wings is 85 beats per second.

9. They eat a lot of insects 

Most ladybirds are beneficial predators of plant pests and feed on soft-bodied insects. Since ladybirds eat the widest range of plant pests, gardeners welcome them with open arms.

Scale insects, whiteflies, mites, and aphids are all favourites of ladybirds to eat. They eat hundreds of pests while still larvae. Scientists believe that a hungry adult ladybird can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. An adult ladybird can eat up to 50 aphids every day.

10. Ladybugs will do what they must to survive

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If there isn’t enough food, ladybirds will eat one another in order to survive. Any soft-bodied child a ladybird comes upon will become its dinner. For the typical ladybird to chew, newly emerging adults or recently moulted larvae are soft enough.

When a ladybird runs out of aphids, eggs or pupae can also give protein. In fact, according to scientists, ladybirds purposefully lay infertile eggs in order to provide a ready supply of food for their tiny hatchlings. A ladybird may produce more unviable eggs during difficult times in order to increase the probability that her young will survive.

The next time you see these ladybugs kindly save this link and read these facts again and take some time to see if there’s anything that you can resonate with.