Content
- Types of ladybugs: general information
- ladybug species
- Types of ladybirds: seven-point ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
- Ladybug types: colon ladybug (Adalia bipunctata)
- Ladybird types: 22-point ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
- Types of ladybug: black ladybug (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
- Types of ladybug: pink ladybug (Coleomegilla maculata)
- Types of ladybug: trivia
At ladybugs, family animals Coccinellidae, are known around the world for their rounded and reddish-colored body, full of beautiful black dots. There are many types of ladybugs, and each of them has unique physical characteristics and curiosities. Want to know what they are?
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we'll talk about the various ladybug species that exist, mentioning the most popular, with names and photographs. We will also explain to you if ladybugs bite, how to know their age and if they swim. Keep reading and find out all about ladybugs!
Types of ladybugs: general information
Ladybugs are coleopteran insects, that is, are beetles with a colored shell and dots, usually black. This coloration serves to warn predators that its taste is unpleasant and, in addition, ladybugs secrete a pestilential yellow substance when they feel threatened.
In this way, ladybugs tell everyone who wants to eat them that it's better to hunt for something else, because they won't be as appetizing on the palate. They also use other techniques, such as playing dead to go unnoticed and stay alive. As a result, the ladybugs have few predators. Only a few large birds or insects dare to eat them.
In general, they vary. between 4 and 10 millimeters and weigh about 0.021 grams. These insects live almost anywhere on Earth as long as there is abundant vegetation. They go out during the day to develop their vital activities, they can be seen easily in the leaves, and when darkness comes, they sleep. Furthermore, during the cold months they carry out hibernation processes.
In its appearance, in addition to its colorful "clothing", its large, thick and folding wings stand out. It should be noted that these beetles undergo major changes throughout their lives, as they carry out processes of metamorphosis. From eggs to larvae and then from larvae to adult ladybugs.
Ladybugs are carnivorous animals, so they usually feed on other insects such as armadillos, caterpillars, mites, and especially aphids. This makes these little beetles a natural insecticide. Clean parks and gardens naturally of pests such as aphids, without the need to use toxic products for the environment.
Regarding their behavior, ladybugs are lonely insects who spend their time looking for food resources. However, despite this independence, the ladybugs gather to hibernate and thus protect themselves all together from the cold.
ladybug species
There are many types of ladybugs, actually about 5,000 species. Yellow, orange, red or green, with all kinds of patterns and even without them. The variety is immense. Next, we'll talk about some of the most common species of ladybugs:
Types of ladybirds: seven-point ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
This species is one of the most popular, especially in Europe. With seven black dots and red wings, this beetle is found where there are aphids, such as gardens, parks, natural areas, etc. Likewise, this type of ladybug is distributed in a wide variety of places around the world. But, the largest distribution area occurs in Europe, Asia and North America.
Ladybug types: colon ladybug (Adalia bipunctata)
This ladybug stands out in Western Europe and is characterized by having only two black dots on its red body. It should be noted that there are some black specimens with four red dots, although they are very difficult to see in nature. Like many other species of ladybugs, the colon is used in many places to control aphid pests.
Ladybird types: 22-point ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
One bright yellow color it differentiates it from the others, at the same time that it presents a huge amount of dots, exactly 22, black in color, legs and antennas in a darker yellow and a size a little smaller than the others, from 3 to 5 millimeters. Instead of eating aphids, this ladybug feeds on fungi that appear on the leaves of many plants. Therefore, its presence in gardens should alert that plants have fungus, which can greatly debilitate a garden.
Types of ladybug: black ladybug (Exochomus quadripustulatus)
This ladybug stands out for its shiny black color with red, orange or yellow dots, some larger than others. However, the color is quite variable, being able to change over time. It also feeds mainly on aphids and other insects, and is distributed throughout most of Europe.
Types of ladybug: pink ladybug (Coleomegilla maculata)
This beautiful ladybug measures between 5 and 6 millimeters in an oval shape, and has six dark spots on its pink, reddish or orange wings, and two large black triangular dots on the back of the head. Endemic to North America, this species is abundant in crops and green areas, where aphids are abundant, as they are great predators of these and other insects and arachnids, such as mites.
Types of ladybug: trivia
Below, we leave you a list with 14 fun facts about the types of ladybugs that exist:
- Ladybugs are vital for ecological balance;
- A single ladybird can feed on 1,000 prey in a single summer.;
- They can lay up to 400 eggs in a single laying;
- Its life expectancy is about 1 year, although some species reach 3 years of life;
- It is not possible to determine age by the number of spots on your body. However, the stains on their bodies lose color over time.
- The sense of smell is in the legs;
- Ladybugs can bite, as they have jaws, but these are not large enough to cause harm to humans;
- Males are smaller than females;
- During the larva stage, ladybugs are not so pretty. They are long, dark and usually full of thorns;
- When they are larvae, they have such an appetite that they can become cannibalism;
- On average, a ladybug flaps its wings 85 times a second when flying;
- Although some beetles can swim, ladybugs cannot survive long when they fall into water;
- Instead of doing it top to bottom, ladybugs bite from side to side;
- In some countries, such as Switzerland and Iran, they are a symbol of good luck.
Did you also know that ladybugs are part of the bearded dragon's diet? That's right, ladybugs serve as food for several species of reptiles, such as the bearded dragon.