The Life of Ladybugs
Like many other insects, Ladybugs use aposematic colouration* to signal their toxicity** to Predators. Insect-eating birds\other animals will learn to avoid meals that come in red and black, and are more likely to stay clear of a ladybug’s path.
Protection:
Ladybugs play dead when they are trying to avoid danger\predators. Such as assassin bugs, stink bugs and spiders may commonly kill ladybugs. Ladybugs can warn you if they are dangerous by the color of their bodies.
Diet:
The most common insects that ladybugs eat are aphids, which are serious pests of plants. Even the larvae ladybugs eat aphids. Ladybugs also have a diet of mites, whiteflies and soft bodied insects.
Habitat:
Adult ladybugs and larvae can be found living in gardens, fields, wooded areas and on plants. The beetles hibernate during winter months in clusters normally found under rocks. But may also go to homes if they can get through the cracks and crevices.
Female ladybugs eat 75 aphids in one day and amazed as you are when a ladybug flies, its wings beat 85 times a second.
Written By Zalia Smith
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*Bright colours and can be dangerous to the predators
**The quality of being toxic or poisonous
