We all know who the ladybug is. The photo of this little red beetle with black specks is familiar to us almost from the very birth, as it is very often found in many children's books. Well, those who have not seen it live, it is unlikely to find. And yet, what do we know about it? Where she lives? Where does it hibernate? What kind of species? And most importantly - what do ladybugs eat?
Coccinellidae - which in Latin means "ladybug"
Related to the family of beetles, these insects still outwardly differ somewhat from their fellow humans, primarily by the structure of the paws. Unlike other members of this family, whose legs have a distinct four-segmented shape, it seems that the ladybug of only three. In fact, this is not so - just one of them is almost invisible, and it seems that there are only three joints. The body of the ladybug is ovoid or hemispherical, and on the small short head there are small tendrils (squats), which usually consist of 11 (less often of 10) segments. There are also 5 departments on the abdomen. Depending on how much and what ladybugs eat, the duration of their life can be up to two years, but most often it is from several months to one year.
In total, more than four thousand species of ladybirds are found that live on all continents (except Antarctica), but the most common species is the seven-point ladybug. Each species prefers its habitat. Someone prefers to settle on trees or bushes, someone - in the meadows, and someone - closer to the water. Most of us are sure that the ladybugs are the same color - red. In fact, this is not so. There are also orange, and yellow and black, and even white.
Ladybird has almost no enemies. Birds or animals with ladybirds prefer not to get involved, and from frogs, spiders and other insects they have effective protection in the form of a caustic yellow substance (cantharidinum), in case of danger of legs emerging from the joints.
Where do ladybugs winter
Strangely enough, ladybugs are migratory insects. True, they do not fly to the south like birds, but prefer to spend winter near their native places. Nevertheless, being good flyers (in a second they make 85 strokes), these tiny bugs are able to travel hundreds of kilometers to find a secluded place for the winter. They prefer to spend the winter in the mountains, where they creep under rocks or into cracks until spring. If there are no mountains nearby, then they can survive the winter and in the forest. For example, seven-dot ladybugs find shelter under leaves or stones. With the onset of spring, they usually return to their native land, although they may also move to another locality.
Restoring strength after a severe winter, ladybugs begin to lay eggs (usually a female lays 200-1000 pieces). Like other insects, during the life of ladybugs go through several stages - an egg, a larva, a pupa, an adult (adult).
What do ladybugs eat?
By nature, ladybugs are predators. The object of hunting is small insects and their larvae (chervets, whitefly, spider mites, scabbards, leaf-eaters, etc.), harming orchards and garden plants. It is well known to any gardener that a ladybug eats tulip - very willingly and in large quantities. For a day, an adult ladybird can eat up to two hundred individuals of aphids (by the way, its larvae also absorb aphids, not less diligently). They are able to find pests both under the bark, and in twisted leaves, and can even get under the ground. Chemicals act superficially, destroying useful insects. Therefore, ladybirds are often specially transferred to pest-infected areas. There are cases when these little bugs saved seasonal crops.
In English-speaking countries the ladybird is called Ladybird, Lady Beetle or Ladybug, meaning by the word "Lady" Virgin Mary and believing that this insect is a divine being. The same is true in other languages. Therefore, it goes without saying that in any case it is impossible to offend this creature. After all, what do ladybugs eat? Only pests, which can not cope with any, even the most perfect chemical preparations.