Ladybird beetles, represented by many species across the globe, are a favorite of children and gardeners alike; their small size and colorful markings appeal to the children while gardeners appreciate their voracious appetite for a host of destructive pests. The brightly-colored carapace of these pea-sized beetles, usually orange, red or yellow with black spots, is thought to warn potential predators that they will excrete a noxious liquid if caught. Though often referred to as "ladybugs," these cute carnivores are true beetles and do not belong to the bug family.
Female ladybirds deposit up to 200 eggs in the spring, choosing plants that are infested with aphids or lice; upon hatching, the larvae feast on these insects as well as on their eggs. Joined by adult ladybirds, which also feed on the larvae and eggs of other destructive insects, the ladybird larvae and their parents play an important role in the protection of native and cultivated plants. Indeed, in many agricultural areas, ladybird beetles are raised for the purpose of biological insect control, an attractive alternative to the use of toxic pesticides.
With the arrival of chilly, autumn nights, ladybird beetles begin to congregate in protected areas, spending the winter in barns, sheds, woodpiles or beneath a coat of leaf litter. Come spring, they emerge to reproduce and to begin another season of plant patrol. Their services are much appreciated.
