What are ladybugs?

Ladybugs are a form of beetle. They are mostly 1/4" long with a domed back. Commonly the wing covers can be red or orange coved with black spots. Depending on the species though,  many varieties have no spots or can be other colors. The head and legs in most are black. There are over 450 species of ladybugs in North America.

Ladybugs lay their eggs primarily under the leaves of plants that have a source of food. In most cases, they are looking for aphids. The larvae will hatch a few days after being layed. Ladybug larvae look like miniature alligators. Most are black with reddish marking and can look spiky or bumpy. The larvae are usually about 1/4" long. The larvae will grow fast and shed their skin several times for about 2 weeks.  The larvae are voracious and can eat  40 to 80 aphids an day. When they are full grown, they will attach themselves to a leaf and form a pupa. In about 2 weeks, they will become an adult ladybug.

 A ladybug can live one to two years and lay over 1000 eggs. If it is under stress, it will release a bad smelling chemical to deter predators. Its bright colors are a warning that it will not make a good meal. Ladybugs will also play dead and drop lifelessly to the ground if attacked.

Most species of adult ladybugs are considered beneficial insects for gardeners and farmers.  An adult ladybug and larvae will remove aphids, whiteflies, lace bugs, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, grape root worms  and the larvae of most other insects. Over its life, a ladybug can consume up to 5,000 aphids or soft bodied insects. Ladybugs will also consume pollen and nectar.

Legend has it, that the "lady" in ladybug came from farmers in the Middle Ages praying to the Blessed Lady to save their crops plagued by pests. Soon after many prayer meetings, farmers stared seeing ladybugs in their fields and began calling the them lady beetles.

You can attract ladybugs into your garden by providing small flowering plants like bugleweed, butterfly weed, cilantro, dandelion, dill, fennel, oregano and thyme.

You can also purchase ladybugs to release into the garden or your farm. If you purchase ladybugs, you need to release them immediately, or store them in a refrigerator for 1 to 3 weeks. Purchase ladybugs from companies that ship next day with food and water in the packaging.

Before releasing the ladybugs into your garden, mist the plants to provide a source of water. You can also mix a few tablespoons of sugar into a spray bottle filled with warm water. This will dramatically increase the amount of ladybugs that will stay in the area and start to reproduce.

Release the ladybugs at sundown, because they rest and don't fly at night. You can spread out the release over the leaves of the plants. If ladybugs fall to the ground, they will climb up the plants.

The ladybug is considered good luck in almost every culture around the world.