Ladybugs are not true bugs at all but beetles, and their bright colors warn birds that they taste bad. Gardeners love them because both adults and their alligator-shaped larvae devour aphids and other sap-sucking pests. Not every ladybug is red with black spots, either; species come in yellow, orange, black and even spotless forms.
Follow the ladybug life cycle from egg to adult, find out what ladybugs eat, and learn to recognize ladybug larvae so you never mistake them for pests. You can also browse ladybug species and colors, anatomy guides, good-luck folklore, and pictures and clip art for school projects.
When you think of a ladybug, you probably have a picture in your mind of a little beetle that is bright red with several black spots on it. That is how most people picture ladybugs and these are the most well-known of all of the ladybug species. Not all ladybugs have black spots on them,…
There are eight parts to the ladybug anatomy, each with its own purpose. A ladybug is an insect, a beetle actually, and it has most of the same anatomical parts as every other insect, as well as a few parts that are distinctive to the ladybug. All ladybugs are less than an inch long, oval,…
The gold ladybug is actually the golden tortoise beetle that is native to the Americas. They are variable in color from reddish-brown with black spots through gold, and often metallic, earning it the nickname “gold bug”. The color changes through its development, during mating, and during times of disturbance, such as when it is touched…
The ladybug life cycle is not much different from the life cycle of a butterfly. The ladybug goes through the same four stages as a butterfly, the egg stage, the larvae stage, the pupa stage, and the adult ladybug stage. You know what adult ladybugs look like, but you wouldn’t even recognize them before they get…
There are about 5,000 different species of ladybugs in the world. These much-loved critters are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. They come in many different colors and patterns, but the most familiar in North America is the seven-spotted ladybug, with its shiny, red-and-black body. In many cultures, ladybugs are considered good luck….
Twice-Stabbed Lady Beetle, commonly termed Chilocorus Stigma, is endemic to the United States, as well as Canada, but is not commonly seen in the western parts of the Sierra Nevada. The population of this beetle is more in areas of California. It has been taken purposefully and introduced in the Hawaii region and has also…
Ladybugs are tiny beetles found all around the world. There are more than 6,000 species of ladybugs known today. The most common among all species are red ladybugs. However, those little critters also come in pink, black, white, and yellow. One of the most beautiful types is yellow ladybugs. Those cute creatures are often called…