How does the ladybug multiply? Brief characteristics of an insect

It is unlikely that there will be a person who has never seen the ladybirds. Many of us in the childhood caught these innocuous insects. After reading this article, you will learn what feeds on and how the ladybug multiplies.

Variety of species

To date, science knows more than four thousand species of these insects. They live practically in all corners of our planet. Many of them have a spherical body, covered with orange, yellow or red elytra, decorated with strips or dots. Contrary to a very popular opinion, the number of the latter does not at all indicate the age of the bug. Those who want to understand how the ladybug multiplies, it will also be interesting to know that the color of insects does not depend on the number of years lived - it is predetermined at the genetic level and remains unchanged throughout the short life of the beetle. By the way, the size of an insect is also not an indicator of age. The size does not indicate that the ladybug is older, this means that the larva was starving and did not develop properly.

Despite the huge variety of existing species, in our country the most common is just one of them - this is a seven-pointed ladybird, which can be recognized by red elytra. On each of them there are three black spots, and one common is located on the scute (pronotum).

Features of the structure

The sizes of these insects range from four to ten millimeters. They have an elongated-oval or round body with a strongly convex back. For those who do not know how the ladybug breeds, it will be interesting that the surface of some species of these insects is covered with thin hairs.

The body of bugs consists of a small head, pronotum, chest, abdomen and wings with elytra. In addition, each individual has three pairs of legs. As a protection against predators, they use cantharidin. This poisonous, unpleasantly smelling liquid of yellow discourages insects from birds and other potential enemies.

Depending on the type of insect, its elytra may be brown, dark blue, black, bright yellow or saturated with red. Some of them have spots of different shade and configuration. Others do not have any patterns at all. A seven-pointed cow that's why it's called, that has seven spots on the back.

Where and how do these insects live ?

Ladybirds live in almost all climatic zones, except for regions that are covered with eternal snows. They can be seen in Poland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Iceland, the UK and many other countries. Some insects live in field grasses, others on sedge and reeds, while others plant plants on which aphid colonies develop.

All ladybugs lead a solitary lifestyle. They gather together only during wintering or during the mating season. Representatives of some species go to winter in countries with a more favorable climate, while others remain to wait for the cold, having merged into numerous groups consisting of several million individuals. They hide from the cold under the bark and between the roots of trees. The average life expectancy of these insects is only one year. With a shortage of food - this time decreases to several months.

What do ladybugs feed on?

Representatives of almost all species are considered predators. The basis of their diet is made by mites and aphids. They do not disdain the puppets of other insects, eggs of butterflies and small caterpillars.

However, in nature there are also species that feed exclusively on plants. These insects eat flowers, leaves, pollen and even mushroom mycelium. Those who are interested in what the larva of Ladybird is eating will be useful to know that the basis of her diet is aphids. Thus, one individual per day can destroy up to 600 pests.

Reproduction of offspring

Discussing the topic "When and how the ladybug multiplies", it is worth noting that this process has been occurring since the beginning of March, with one pairing of insects sometimes lasting up to 9 hours in a row. The female can lay off five to three hundred yellow eggs, having an elongated shape. For masonry, she chooses places of a large accumulation of aphids, since the number of offspring depends on this.

After a week, larvae with well-developed jaws hatch from eggs. They are very hungry and eat a lot of aphids. The larvae themselves have a disgusting taste, so almost no one hunts them. After another ten to fifteen days, a doll of ladybird appears from the larva, which is attached to the leaves of plants with the help of exo-skeleton remains. After another two weeks, during which all the characteristic parts of the body are laid, it turns into a fully formed adult.

A young insect can be recognized by a pale color and lack of pattern. Over time, the back of the ladybug acquires a rich shade, and the corresponding pattern appears on it. In general, the duration of a full cycle of development and transformation ranges from four to seven weeks.