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Useful facts on ladybugs

ladybug-ladybird.gif Walking around the garden with my camera yesterday evening, I came across a loveliness of ladybugs (apparently that's the collective noun for a group of them!) residing on my eggplants. Each leaf seemed to bear its own ladybug creature - and every one of them seemed to have had more than enough to eat.

Hardly surprising, there was not an aphid in sight. It was like watching a bikie party occur in your neighborhood - apart from the bikies everyone else just stays indoors.

So, what are these little creatures? Do they have a purpose and are they a good thing for my garden?

Here are some facts on ladybugs that might be useful;

  • Scientific Name: Coccinellidae: They are beetle not a bug or a bird
  • Common Names: Ladybugs, Lady Beetles, Ladybirds
  • How many species: There are more than 450 in the US alone and more than 300 in Australia.
  • Ladybugs Life Cycle: View it here
  • What do ladybugs eat? They're not picky but they do enjoy a good meal of aphids, mites and other small insects.
  • How many aphids does each one eat? While in the pupae stage, each ladybug will consume more than 350 aphids each. Then once they become an adult the number can increase to more than 5000 in its lifetime.
  • Where do they go in winter?: They hibernate just like many cold-blooded animals. You will possibly find them in attics, crevices in the wall or anywhere that's dry, warm and out of the elements. Here's a post I wrote earlier on this very fact.
  • Too many aphids: You can buy ladybugs if they haven't turned up in your neighbourhood yet.
  • How to get rid of ladybugs: I'm not sure that you would want to do this but if for some bizarre reason you had an infestation of them and they became problematic you could use a pesticide on them. They are far more acute to chemical sprays than the pests they devour so don't go spraying them around if you want to keep them in your garden.
  • Are there 'male' ladybugs? Of course. Ladybugs are sexual insects and mate similarly to many animals.
  • Are the orange ladybugs the male? No. Male and female of each species look very similar apart from some minor differences and can rarely be split apart. Ladybugs come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Some are black, some are black with red dots, others are red with black dots, orange with black dots, striped, mottled you name it they seem to come with that design.
  • Red Ladybugs are lucky? Why do we attribute 'luck' to an animal or insect? You're lucky if they turn up in your garden but it doesn't matter what colour they are so long as they have an appetite.

Ladybugs are fascinating creatures and my kids were so enthusiastic finding them all over our plants last night. It seems they've done their job so it will be interesting to see if they will stick around or head off someone else. Who knows, they might even hibernate in our roof cavity?





Posted by Stuart on February 28, 2008 5:15 AM | | Check to Subscribe to this Comment:


Comments

Very good information Stuart ! Hard to believe they eat that many aphids .. for a little bug ? LOL
I have considered buying them actually .. we don't have enough in our neighborhood and the aphids drive me NUTS in the Spring ..they seem to really enjoy my Gold Mock Orange especially ..
I think I will look into buying them ..
Thanks !
Joy

Posted by: Joy | February 28, 2008 8:04 AM

Stuart,
There is a reason to get rid of a certain variety - the Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis. It may not apply to your part of the world, but in America they are a big nuisance, are crowding out our native species of lady beetles, have an acrid odor and leave yellow stains on everything and can cause allergy flare-ups in humans. People are unknowingly purchasing this type from garden centers and mail order (almost impossible to tell them apart from our natives) making the problem even worse as they have no natural enemies here. People should be sure to check that they are getting natives before purchasing.

Posted by: Tina | February 28, 2008 11:18 PM

Stuart, thanks for this info. I've often wondered where ladybugs go in winter and you've answered that question! We get quite a few of them in the house at times..I think in the spring. After reading your article this morning Ross told me I should put the next one I find on an indoor plant rather than throw it outside. I will! :)

Posted by: kerri | February 29, 2008 3:46 AM

Joy - if you do end up buying some let us know how you get on with them. There are differing views on whether they are beneficial as bought beetles so I'm keen to see some more anecdotal evidence.

Tina - good heads-up on the Asian Lady Beetle. Readers beware!

Kerri - cheers for the comment. Sounds like Ross has got it sussed.

Posted by: Stuart | February 29, 2008 6:22 AM

Here's a question for you, Stuart. Do you get many ladybugs inside in your winter? We see quite a few of them in the winter in our house, and I keep them indoors until the weather warms up, at which time I move them into the greenhouse before encouraging them to fly, be free! My buddy with the nursery called yesterday because he's had hundreds in his house (these are old farmhouses, not wrapped in plastic) and he moved some of his out to the propagating greenhouse...where they too can start propagating. Lovely creatures.

Posted by: jodi | March 1, 2008 10:34 AM

Great info I'm doing a flora and fuana of the month for the Forest Heritage Centre's Website Dwellingup Australiaand to find info on the net about australian ladybirds is far and few between. Thanks Stuart.

Posted by: Dana | May 25, 2008 1:17 PM

I have done alot of research on the Convergent lady beetle
Scientific name: Hippodamia convergens
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Common prey: Predaceous on aphids and occasionally other soft-bodied homopterans. Used for aphid control in roses. Can be important in every crop with aphid pests.
Commercially available: Yes

Your photo look like an Asian Lady-bug these have more spots and are smaller then the Convergent Lady Beetle. The Lady-bugs as shown on your photo has been giving people mixed information people are selling the Asian Lady beetle as the Convergent Lady Beetle. These Asian lady beetle were imported and are now considered pests to humans because they will invade your home. See Yourtube.com for video showing these Asian lady bugs invading people house.
I recommend making sure you get the correct Lady-bugs for your Organic Farming. See http://www.thebestladybughouse.com

Posted by: John Pavon | August 4, 2008 4:12 AM

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