Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Ladybug
Harmonia axyridis
26.1223, -80.1434
Field Notes
Description:
One out of every five animals on Earth is a beetle. There are more beetles than any other insect group, more than 250,000 kinds.Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are a very beneficial group. They are natural enemies of many insects, especially aphids and other sap feeders. A single lady beetle may eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
Habitat:
The most valuable beetle to humans is the ladybug. There are over 350 species of ladybugs in North America. Ladybugs live in trees, shrubs, fields, beaches, and in homes. In the fall they crawl to winter sites. A few to several hundred gather for the winter. The winter gathering spot may be at the base of a tree, along a fence row, under a fallen tree, or under a rock. In the mountains large numbers of up to 500 gallons of beetles may move in together for the winter. Ladybugs eat many different soft bodied insects with aphids being their main food. An adult female may eat 75 aphids in a day. The smaller male may eat up to 40 aphids in a day. One larva may eat up to 350 aphids during its life span. More than 5,000 aphids may be eaten by a single adult in its lifetime.
Notes:
Conserving Ladybugs:
Lady beetles can play an important role in managing some insect pests in crops and landscapes. Here are some things that you can do to maximize their impact.
* Learn to recognize the different stages of these beneficial insects.
* Make insecticide applications only when necessary and use selective insecticides or limited treatments to avoid killing lady beetles.
* Add plants that can provide pollen and nectar for lady beetles. These are important components of the diets of some species.
Comments (1)