A spotless ladybug (<i>Cycloneda sanguinea</i>) photographed in Salt Lake City, Utah
A spotless ladybug (Cycloneda sanguinea) photographed in Salt Lake City, Utah
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark

Ladybugs

Common Name:
Ladybugs
Scientific Name:
Coccinellidae
Type:
Invertebrates
Diet:
Omnivore
Average Life Span In The Wild:
2 to 3 years
Size:
0.3 to 0.4 inches

Many people are fond of ladybugs because of their colorful, spotted appearance. But farmers love them for their appetite.

Importance to Farming

Most ladybugs voraciously consume plant-eating insects, such as aphids, and in doing so they help to protect crops. Ladybugs lay hundreds of eggs in the colonies of aphids and other plant-eating pests. When they hatch, the ladybug larvae immediately begin to feed.

Population

Ladybugs are also called lady beetles or, in Europe, ladybird beetles. There are about 5,000 different species of these insects, and not all of them have the same appetites. A few ladybugs prey not on plant-eaters but on plants. The Mexican bean beetle and the squash beetle are destructive pests that prey upon the crops mentioned in their names.

Spots and Coloring

Ladybugs appear as half-spheres, tiny, spotted, round or oval-shaped domes. They have short legs and antennae.

Their distinctive spots and attractive colors are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste. Their coloring is likely a reminder to any animals that have tried to eat their kind before: "I taste awful." A threatened ladybug may both play dead and secrete the unappetizing substance to protect itself.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community.
This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community.
Photograph by William Banik, National Geographic Your Shot

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