What kinds of ladybugs are there

We must remember: all things in moderation! The female ladybug lays her tiny, golden eggs on the underside of leaves, usually near an aphid colony. In most species, the eggs hatch into larvae that look like caterpillars in just a few days. Once hatched, the larvae eat about to aphids in the 2 weeks it takes them to become fully grown. As they grow, the larvae shed their skin several times.

Once they are a certain size, the larvae stop eating and attach themselves to a plant leaf or stem. They then enter their next developmental stage, called the pupa. When it is time, the adult ladybug emerges from the pupa. Though it now has all the features of an adult beetle, its exoskeleton is still soft and light in color.

It takes the emergent insect several hours for its exoskeleton to harden and darken. A ladybug's entire life cycle only takes three to seven weeks.

Not all ladybugs have spots. The Paramysia oblonguttata , for example, is striped, and some species have no spots at all. A single ladybug larva was observed to have eaten 25 aphids per day for a total of aphids during the course of its larval phase. Ladybugs have traveled into space. Four ladybugs and a jar of aphids were carried on a space shuttle as part of a zero gravity test to study their movement. The ladybugs were able to capture their prey without the help of gravity.

Main menu. Search form Search. Ladybugs are helpful to gardeners, since they eat aphids and other pests. Ladybug populations are stable. Calla Lily. Hippodamia convergens is a type of lady beetle that belongs to the Coccinellidae family and is the most common ladybug species in North America. The usefulness of ladybirds is due to the fact that they gorge on almost anything. So, what do ladybugs eat apart from aphids? Researchers have found that different types of ladybugs eat different things.

These fake ladybugs can easily be mistaken for true ladybugs as they look similar to them. These types of beetles include the clerid beetle, scarlet lily beetle, and Colorado potato beetle.

These bugs are types of beetles that look like ladybugs but are actually fake ladybugs. From left to right: the Clerid beetle, Scarlet lily beetle, and Colorado potato beetle. One type of bug that looks like a ladybug and is actually from the same Coccinellidae family, is the Asian lady beetle.

Even though the Asian lady beetle is similar to native ladybugs, they act completely different. This is why many people consider them to be an invasive pest. The multicolored Asian beetle was imported into the US and other countries to control the number of crop-destroying pests. However, the Asian beetle itself has become a nuisance for many people. The Asian lady beetle is now becoming a pest in many countries.

Asian lady beetles look similar to native ladybugs but they bite and can cause allergic skin reactions. In late fall and early winter, Asian ladybugs start flying to warmer climates.

Large numbers can swarm and invade homes. The biting ladybugs can also cause an irritating bite on exposed skin. Unlike native ladybugs, Asian ladybugs leave an odorous slimy fluid when squashed. Other names for this invasive pest include the Japanese ladybug, Halloween ladybeetle, harlequin, or multicolored Asian beetle. Scientists have identified that species of Asian lady beetles come in many colors. Asian ladybugs are winged insects that are between 5 and 8 mm in length with oval body.

Many Asian lady beetles have red body with black spotted markings. They can also be orange color or cream color and may or may not have markings. Being classified as a true member of the lady beetle family Coccinellidae , Asian beetles have a similar life-cycle.

After the eggs hatch, larvae feed on soft plant food. They then molt their skin 4 times before becoming a pupa. After that, they emerge from this pupa state as adult Asian lady beetles.

The best way to prevent swarming Asian ladybugs invading your home is to caulk crevices around windows, doors, and pipes. If you have been bitten by a ladybug, chances are that this was an Asian lady beetle and not the Convergent ladybug or the 7-spot ladybird.

What does an Asian lady beetle bite feel like? Scientists say that the bite feels like a pinprick and only rarely has complications. Unlike harmless native ladybugs, the Asian type of ladybug can leave behind stinky yellow secretion. For some people, this can cause allergic skin reactions or asthma. Telling the difference between native ladybugs and biting Asian lady beetles can be challenging. Both look similar and are of similar size.

However, there are some tell-tale signs that allow you to tell them apart such as the markings on their head and the bite. Bite — One of the main differences between ladybug and Asian beetle is the bite. Ladybugs native to North America and Europe are not biting beetles. As already mentioned, Asian ladybugs can pinch the skin. Swarming nature — The other the difference between ladybug and Asian lady beetle is the swarming nature of Asian beetles. If you see a lonely ladybird, then it is probably a native ladybug species.

Unlike native ladybugs, Asian beetles swarm in large numbers and quickly cover windows. This is because, in the fall, swarming beetles look for warm surfaces. Head marking — One other difference between ladybugs and Asian ones is the markings on their head. This is the part of their body between their head and body, and is usually black. Due to their more aggressive nature, the Asian ladybugs can harm dogs. Some vets have reported a few cases where dogs ingested Asian beetles and developed stomach upset such as vomiting and diarrhea.

If you have identified Asian lady beetles in your home, the best way to eradicate them is with a vacuum cleaner. In , the nine-spotted ladybug became the official state bug for New York. However, this bug is almost extinct in the United States, with most sightings in the midwestern and western regions of the country. Their endangerment is a result of the increased population of seven-spotted ladybugs, which are an invasive species in the United States.

Coccinella transversoguttata, or the transverse ladybug, is recognized by its narrow spots. This ladybug has five spots. Each of the wings has two spots and the longest spot stretches over both wings near the ladybug's head. Transverse ladybugs are seen in southern Canada and the western United States. According to the Lost Ladybug Project, this species of lady bugs are endangered.

An insect usually known as the pink spotted lady beetle sometimes goes by the name of the pink ladybug. Skip Davis has been writing professionally since Poisonous Spiders in the Northeast. What Do Ladybugs Need to Live? List of California Wild Finches. Animals Found in the Piedmont Region of Georgia.