Ladybugs

What is a ladybug?A ladybug is an insect classified as a beetle. An insect has six legs, two antennae, two wings and three body parts – head, thorax, and abdomen. Ladybugs actually have 4 wings.

Ladybugs can be red, orange, yellow, or black.

What are the parts of a ladybug?Ladybugs have two pairs of wings attached to the middle

section, or thorax of their bodies. The inner pair of wings is used for flying. The outer pair of wings, named the elytra is hard like a shell and is used to protect the ladybug.

legsouter wings

legs

abdomen

thorax

antennaehead

What do ladybugs eat?Ladybugs eat aphids, small insects that suck the juice out of plants. One ladybug can eat as many as 100 aphids in a day! Lady bugs chew from side to side.

How do ladybugs move?Ladybugs walk on six legs and have four wings, two of the wings help them to fly. The legs on a ladybug have several joints to help it move on leaves.

How do ladybugs protect themselves?

Ladybugs use their bright color and pattern to warn predators that they do not taste good. Some ladybugs excrete a foul-smelling liquid from their legs. Ladybugs have outer wings that serve as a hard shell when closed.

Where do ladybugs live?Ladybugs live on plant leaves. Each type of ladybug likes to each specific kinds of aphids. Ladybugs mate near the kind of aphids they prefer to eat.

What is a ladybug’s life-cycle?

eggs

larvae

pupae

adult

Other interesting facts about ladybugs.

Many ladybugs hibernate during the winter.

Some ladybugs have stripes.

Ladybugs have special organs in their feet to help them smell.

A ladybug’s antennae help the insect to touch, smell, and taste.

Ladybugs have been used for many years to get rid of insect pests in the garden.