Ladybug
Ladybug / Seven-Spot Ladybird Facts
| Size | 0.2-0.3 in (5-8 mm) |
| Speed | Unknown |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Lifespan | Up to 2 years |
| Food | Aphids and scale insects |
| Predators | Birds, ants, lizards, spiders |
| Habitat | Europe, Asia, northern Africa |
| Order | Beetles |
| Family | Ladybug |
| Scientific name | Coccinella septempunctata |
| Characteristics | Red shell with black spots |
The seven point ladybug is the best-known ladybug.
Seven Dots? Seven Years old! Right?
Lots of people say that the number of spots on a ladybug’s back shows its age, but the colors and dots only show what type they are.
Ladybugs in Red, Orange and Yellow
Seven point ladybugs typically have red shells. They have a semi-circular body and seven points on their red front wings. The shape and size of their dots can vary.
There are ladybugs with orange or even bright yellow shells, like the twenty-two spot ladybug, which of course has 22 spots.
Where do Ladybugs Live?
Ladybugs can mostly be found in parks, houses, gardens and fields.
What Does a Ladybug do If Threatened?
The color red is a warning signal for other animals, which the ladybug uses to say: “Watch out, I’m poisonous!” If it feels threatened by an ant, for example, the ladybug will release an unpleasant smelling, yellow liquid from its knee.
Ladybugs Love Cuddling up For Winter
Adult beetles often spend the winter huddled in large groups under rocks, bark, grass or moss.
Reproduction
The female lays hundreds of eggs in the spring. They lay them on plants where there are lots of aphids.
From Larva to Beetle
It takes a ladybug 30-60 days to develop from an egg to a full-grown red ladybug. During this development, they shed their skin several times.
First of all, ravenous larvae hatch from the yellow eggs. After a few weeks, they stop eating and use a sticky liquid to attach themselves to a plant. They become stiff and stop moving. They “pupate”. Inside, the ladybug is developing.
They shed again and the adult beetle appears after around a week. It’s still a little yellow in color to begin with.
This fact sheet was submitted by animalfunfacts.net fan Lara O. Thanks for your amazing article! Do you want to write a fan fact sheet?
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