10 Big Surprises About Ladybugs
Here are some things you may not know about these colorful cuties.
- They Aren’t All Ladies – Ladybugsgo by different names: ladybird, ladybird beetle, lady beetle, lady fly, and others. But no matter what you call them, they aren’t all ladies! Plenty of ladybugs are males. So how do you tell which is which? Well, male ladybugs are slightly smaller than females. But unless you have a male and female of the same species right next to each other, it’s really hard to tell them apart.
- They Aren’t Even Bugs! – Lots of people call all insects “bugs.” But only some of them are really bugs. True bugs each have a long, thin beak that works like a straw. But ladybugs have chewing mouthparts to eat their food. They’re beetles, not bugs.
- They’re Not All Red with Black Spots – Ladybugs can come in many colors, including red, orange, black, yellow, pink, and white. And their spots aren’t always black. Some don’t even have spots; they may have stripes or no markings at all!
- They Have Thin, Hide-Away Wings – You may have seen a ladybug fly. The colorful parts are the ladybug’s forewings, called elytra (EL-ih-truh), and they aren’t used for flying. These hard, shell-like wings protect the thin, delicate hindwings. When the ladybug lifts its elytra, its hindwings unfold for flying.
- They’re BIG Eaters – Ladybugs eat tiny insects and insect eggs. Their favorite food is aphids. Aphids are insects that suck the juices out of crops and other plants. Too many in one place can damage or kill the plants. But one ladybug can eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime! So ladybugs are special favorites of farmers and gardeners.
- Their Colors Are a Warning – A ladybug’s bright colors don’t just look pretty. They send an important message. As with some other brightly colored animals, the ladybugs’ colors say, “I taste really bad!” Some predators may see the colors and decide to find a better-tasting meal.
- They “Hibernate” – When temperatures drop, it’s time for ladybugs to take their winter naps. Hundreds or even thousands of ladybugs will cluster together to survive the winter. They gather in rocky crevices and under tree bark or leaves. Some even cluster in attics or other parts of people’s houses. As temperatures warm up in spring, the ladybugs become active and go about their ladybug business.
- They Are Quick-Change Artists – Just as butterflies do, ladybugs go through a change called metamorphosis. When ladybug larvae hatch from their eggs, they don’t look anything like adult ladybugs. As it grows, it sheds its skin several times. Then, when the time is right, the larva attaches itself to a leaf and becomes a pupa (PYOO-puh). Inside the pupa, big changes happen. And finally—presto, change-o!—an adult ladybug comes out.
So now you know the truth about ladybugs: They’re full of surprises!