Why do ladybugs have black spots? How long do ladybugs live, what do they eat and how do they winter? Description of the adult

Beetles from the ladybird family are clearly visible on leaves, flowers and grass. Their convex red and black bodies flash among the greenery of parks, gardens and vegetable gardens. The insect's attractive coloration is actually a warning. In case of danger, the beetle releases a poisonous liquid. It is not harmful to humans, and birds do not risk hunting small bugs. Attentive fauna lovers will notice that the pattern on the back of ladybugs differs in the number of dots. The number of black spots on the elytra ranges from 2 to 28. The seven-spotted ladybug is the most common species that is found in parks, fields and gardens.

Morphological description

The seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinellaseptempunctata) is a species found throughout Eurasia. This species is a frequent visitor to gardens and orchards. Insects live wherever there is food for them - aphid colonies. The body shape of the imago is half a sphere. Convex hard elytra of bright red color. The color is most intense in young adults; it fades with age. Black dots are distributed 3 on each elytra and one common one located near the scutellum. The length of the imago is 7-8 mm.

Interesting fact. The legend about the origin of the insect's name says that it was sent in response to prayers for help in pest control. The seven dots symbolize the joys and sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

The small head is fixedly attached to the prothorax. The eyes are complex, faceted, of medium size. The head, chest and lower part of the body are black. There are two white spots on the convex, transverse pronotum. The antennae are black and club-shaped. The organ of smell is flexible and mobile. The hind wings are well developed and darkened. Thanks to them, adults fly long distances. Three pairs of legs with claws and bristles allow them to move along grass and stems and crawl along a vertical surface.

Insects have evolved several defense mechanisms. In addition to their warning coloration, the cows pretend to be dead. They press their limbs to their body, fall and freeze. One of the ways to scare away the main enemies (spiders, large insects) is the release of a pungent-smelling liquid from the joints of the legs.

Spreading

Coccinellaseptempunctata is found in the steppe zone of Russia, Siberia, and Primorsky Krai. The insect lives in gardens and parks in Europe, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Mongolia, China and Korea. A popular species distributed in India and North Africa.

Interesting fact. To control the aphid population, the seven-spotted ladybird was imported into the United States. The insect does not acclimate well to North America. The beetle has taken root only in a few states: Ohio, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.

Lifestyle and reproduction

Insects live separately. They gather in groups only during the breeding and wintering periods. The mating period for ladybugs occurs in late spring and early summer. It is important for the female to have a sufficient supply of nutrients necessary for the formation of offspring. If she hasn't eaten enough, she avoids mating. The male searches for a partner by secreting pheromones.

The fertilized female lays eggs on the underside of the leaves. The location is chosen close to the aphid colony. The eggs are orange and elongated. Each clutch contains up to 50 pieces. The eggs are quite large, 1.2 mm in length, and are fixed in a vertical position. In total, the female lays 250-1000 eggs during her life.

The development time of the embryo depends on the temperature - at 15° it is 4 days, at 30° it is 2 days. The size of the larvae at birth is only 1 mm. Its first food is egg shells and dead embryos. Young larvae suck liquid from the aphids. As they mature, they eat their prey whole. After a month of active feeding, it grows to a length of 8-10 mm.

The elongated, segmented body is dark gray. The head is yellow, there are yellow spots on the sides of the chest and abdomen. The body of the larva is covered with growths ending in black hairs. Movable limbs provide mobility. The voracious larva actively hunts aphids and eats their eggs. The development period includes a change of four instars and three molts. Then comes the pupal stage.

Interesting fact. In 1976, an outbreak of mass reproduction of ladybugs occurred in England. The insects did not have enough food, they attacked everything. Cases of human bites have been recorded, but they do not pose a danger.

Before pupation, the fourth instar larva fasts for a day. It attaches to the plant with the tip of its abdomen and pupates. The pupa is orange with black spots. The stage takes 8-12 days; at high temperatures it passes faster. The shell of the pupa is torn along the back. The young seven-spotted ladybug emerges with soft coverings on the elytra. Her body is not painted. Full pigmentation takes about a week.

Close view

The two-spotted ladybug lives in Russia and throughout Central and Western Europe. The modest body size of 5 mm does not prevent the beetle from being an active destroyer of aphids in fields, gardens and parks. The insect was introduced to Australia for pest control. Ladybugs come in light and dark shapes. The first is tan or red in color, the second is black with red spots. The species is a known entomophage on fruit trees. The beetles prefer aphids that live on apple, plum and peach trees.

In mid-summer, two-spot ladybugs spread to other plants. They can be found on grain crops, grass, and vegetables. Fertile females lay up to 600 eggs. 2-3 generations are replaced per year.

Interesting fact. Two-spot ladybirds are characterized by an abnormal sex ratio. In some colonies the number of females is 70-80%.

Ladybug pest or helper

There are more than 4,000 species of ladybugs in the world. With rare exceptions, they are all predators. But some types of insects feed on plants, causing damage to agriculture. Phytophages prefer to settle in the tropics; in Russia there are 3 herbivorous species: potato or 28-spotted ladybird, alfalfa and pointless ladybird. Is the seven-spotted ladybug a pest or not? The answer can be unequivocal - no. The beetle benefits gardeners by keeping the numbers of aphids, scale insects, whiteflies and spider mites under control. 60-100 aphids are destroyed per day.

Information. Ladybugs are specially bred and used to control field pests. They are dropped into areas where aphids are spreading using aircraft.

Active hunting for pests is carried out from spring to autumn. The lifespan of an insect depends on the amount of food, on average it is 3-4 months, but with good nutrition and favorable conditions it increases to 1 year. Beetles gather in large groups for the winter. They hide from the cold under plant debris, in the cracks of stumps, under stones.

Natural enemies

To the question How many dots are there on the back of a ladybug? given by the author Badminton the best answer is There are more than 1000 species of ladybugs (lat. Coccinellidae) in the world. They live in different places: some liked the plants on which aphids are found (these are apparently the laziest, or better said, pragmatic - food is always at hand), others looked for the indescribable beauty of field grasses, while others liked meadows with a view on the stream, some preferred to sit on aquatic plants.

This is what a two-spotted ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) looks like.

And so - with 22 points (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata).
an amazing cow (Ailocaria hexaspilota Hope), the pattern on the elytra of which is truly worthy of surprise and philosophical treatises. This type of ladybug can only be found here in the south of the Far East. She first lives on bird cherry, and by the end of May she moves to Manchurian nut. He loves to eat leaf beetles. It is also surprising that flocks of amazing cows accumulate during the wintering period. Imagine how beautiful it turns out!

Answer from Geneticist[active]
for some reason this is always associated with age, but in fact this is not true. It’s always different. There may even be an odd number of them!

Answer from sulfur[guru]
It's different for everyone:

Answer from turn black[guru]
One artist once insisted that six dots must be drawn on the back of a ladybug.
Later it turned out that there are more than 1000 species of ladybugs (lat. Coccinellidae) in the world. They live in different places: some liked the plants on which aphids are found (these are apparently the laziest, or better said, pragmatic - food is always at hand), others looked for the indescribable beauty of field grasses, while others liked meadows with a view on the stream, some preferred to sit on aquatic plants.
The most common species appears to be the seven-spotted ladybug (Cocinella septempunctata). Its black breast is decorated with a whitish spot in the anterior corner, and there are seven black dots on the red elytra (three on each elytra and one common scute). It is found in Europe, North Africa, Asia and feeds on aphids.
According to the ladybug atlas, you may encounter a ladybug with the number of spots from two to twenty-six.
It is curious that this particular ladybug was approved as the national insect of Latvia in 1991 by the Entomological Society of Latvia. She is useful, slow by nature, but this does not prevent her from defending herself well - it is precisely because of her appearance and behavior that she is so loved in Latvia. In Latvian it is called marite, which is the name of the Latvian ancient deity Mara, who embodies earthly power.
Recently I read about an amazing cow (Ailocaria hexaspilota Hope), the pattern on the elytra of which is truly worthy of surprise and philosophical treatises. This type of ladybug can only be found here in the south of the Far East. She first lives on bird cherry, and by the end of May she moves to Manchurian nut. He loves to eat leaf beetles. It is also surprising that flocks of amazing cows accumulate during the wintering period. Imagine how beautiful it turns out!
No matter how many dots decorate the back of a ladybug, it is beautiful to the envy of all insects and to the delight of people. Let's pay attention to these wonderful creatures!

Answer from Fly away[guru]
If you need a serious answer, then I can say unequivocally: what was described above is all correct, but this is not a LADYBUG - it is a type of Colorado potato beetle (the main species and the true Colorado striped beetle) and it has many points and different numbers. Namely, the LADYBUG has exactly 7 points, one of which is in the middle of its wings and can only be seen when its wings are folded.

Answer from Panther[master]
should be 6, in my opinion. But this definitely has nothing to do with her age :))

Answer from Interest[guru]
As for age, it’s complete nonsense; a ladybug, having hatched from a pupa, never grows again and, accordingly, does not change. And the number of dots depends on the type of cow. There are three-, five- and seven-spot ladybugs.

Answer from Elena[guru]
The dots on the back of a ladybug are not its age, but its species. The most common ladybug is called the seven-spotted ladybug in science. Remember zoology. The larva molts many times and grows, then pupates and an adult insect emerges. Because of the chitinous cover, it cannot grow; its task is to find a partner to lay eggs, and then death.

Answer from Secret[guru]
And there aren’t any!
In Russia there are 3 species of phytophagous ladybugs.
In the Far East there is serious damage to potato crops,
cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetable crops
- just think - a 28-point potato ladybug!!
(Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata Motsch.), formerly assigned to the genus Epilachna.
In Smolensk, Saratov and other regions of the middle zone and south
Russia occasionally damages alfalfa, clover and sweet clover
pointless ladybird (Cynegetis impunctata L.).
and according to their science:
In the family Cocinellidae, 7 subfamilies are now usually distinguished (according to Sasaji, 1971):
Sticholotidinae (= Sticholotinae)
Coccidulinae
Tetrabrachinae (= Lithophilinae) - sometimes included in Coccidulinae
Scymninae
Chilocorinae
Coccinellinae
Epilachninae
Coccinellid species found in the territory of the former USSR belong to 11 tribes and 44 genera (Yablokov-Khnzorian, 1983).

These bugs, familiar to everyone from childhood, as well as their larvae, are natural enemies of aphids. Every self-respecting gardener should know about the developmental stages and living conditions of ladybugs. The material in this article will help fill the gaps in knowledge.

Of the 5,000 members of the family Coccinellidae, to which ladybugs or coccinellids belong, only 100 species live in Europe. Climatic conditions and the availability of food have a significant impact on the development of these bugs, their growth rate, and increase in numbers. Ladybugs need warmth, so most of these insects prefer tropical or subtropical climates. In colder climates, cows lead an active lifestyle on warm days; during cool periods, they are less mobile - they fly more slowly and less.

Contrary to popular belief, the number of dots on the elytra of ladybugs does not determine the age of these insects. But by their color and shape one can only understand whether an individual belongs to a particular species.

Most common types of ladybugs :

The ladybug (Anatis osellata) is 8–10 mm long, the elytra are yellow-red with twenty black dots framed by light edges, found in pine forests and forests, on garden trees, feeding on lice beetles.

The seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) is a well-known species, 5–9 mm long, common in Central Europe, feeds on aphids, and is not found on trees.

The ten-spotted ladybird (Adalia decimpunctata) has a length of 3.5–5 mm, the elytra are dark brown or dark red, each with five black spots, the most active species that exterminates aphids, hunts for aphids in trees, bushes, and meadows.

The fourteen-spot ladybird (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata), its length is 3.5–4.5 mm, has over 100 different shapes, the elytra are red or yellow with fourteen dark spots, and feeds on different types of aphids.

The dotted ladybug (Stethorus), 1.3–1.5 mm long, has black elytra covered with hairs, yellow legs and antennae, preys on spider mites, and lives on fruit and deciduous trees.

Chilocorus bipustulatus and kidney-shaped Chilocorus renipustulatus, have a length of 3.3–4.5 mm and 4.5–5.7 mm, respectively, both species with smooth black elytra, the adults and larvae of these insects feed on aphids and coccids.

The ladybug Clitostethus arcuatus, 1–2 mm long, has brown elytra with two dark spots framed by light edges, the elytra are covered with hairs, and hunts whiteflies.

Tree synharmonia (Synharmonia oblongoguttata), 5 mm long, has red and pink elytra with eight rectangular black spots, destroys aphids on fruit and deciduous trees.

The streak-spotted ladybug (Neomysia oblongoguttata) has a length of 7–9 mm, black elytra with numerous yellow spots, and preys on aphids that attack coniferous trees.

The ladybug is twenty-two-spotted, up to 4 mm long, the elytra are lemon-yellow in color with eleven black dots on each, does not eat aphids, feeds on mealy fungi on bushes, trees, meadow plants, and vineyards.

Most ladybugs feed on different types of aphids, but there are individuals that prefer only certain types of these pests. In search of food, cows can travel considerable distances. Adult beetles eat up to 150 aphids per day. Some feed on scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites, and whiteflies. A small number of ladybugs eat fungal spores. In addition to animal food, the menu of these insects includes plants, their pollen and nectar.

Ladybugs reproduce only if there is enough food. Females lay eggs on the underside of leaves; one clutch can contain from 10 to 30 yellow eggs. One female can lay 400 eggs. Clutches of laid eggs are usually located near. Ladybugs that hunt coccids lay their eggs in the body of the pest, under its shell.

A week later, the eggs hatch into larvae that are dark in color and elongated in shape. The larvae must feed well, so the larva of the seven-spotted ladybird is able to destroy 800 aphids. Up to five stages of growth and larval formation occur before pupation, which begins after 3–6 weeks.

The pupae are round in shape, orange or black in color, and are attached to leaves or tree trunks. The pupal phase lasts from four to nine weeks; at the end of this period, yellow-orange beetles hatch with barely visible spots on the elytra.

The period of the full development cycle of ladybugs ranges from one to three months. In one year, these insects can produce one or two generations.

Maintaining favorable living conditions for ladybugs on the site is not difficult at all. When fighting pests in gardens and vegetable gardens, it is better to refrain from using chemical control agents. Aphids should not be completely destroyed in the spring, as this will deprive the adult generation of ladybugs of food.

The presence of a sufficient number of trees, shrubs, and hedges on a personal plot will provide ladybugs with wintering places. Heaps of brushwood, fallen leaves, woodpiles, birdhouses, walls of sheds and other buildings left in the garden can become a haven for an entire colony of ladybirds during the winter.

Based on materials from the site: http://ayatskov1.ru/

Why was the beetle nicknamed ladybug?

Coccinellid beetles are more commonly called ladybugs, and among different peoples of the world their naming, one way or another, has divine meaning.

Ladybug— Poland, Russia, Romania, Lithuania.
Moses' cow - Israel.
St. Anthony's Cow (Vaquita de San Antonio) - Argentina.
Beetle of the Holy Virgin Mary (“Marienkaefer”) - Germany, Austria, Switzerland.
Chicken of God (“Roulette a Dieu”) - France.
Bird of the Virgin Mary - United States of America, Canada, England.

Because there is no clear answer to this question. Let's try to find out why this is so by building a logical chain.

The origin of the word “ladybug” may be associated with the protective functions of this insect, namely, with its biological property of releasing a toxic liquid from its legs - yellow milk, which serves as a deterrent for those who want to feast on this divine animal. It was this milk that could serve as an analogy for calling a bug a cow.

But where does different cultures of the world come from such love and reverent attitude towards ladybugs? We can all remember stories from childhood that you should not offend a ladybug, and if you meet one, you need to put it on your palm and say a cute little poem: “Ladybug, fly to heaven, bring us bread, black, white, but not burnt.” or “Ladybug, fly to the sky, your children are there, eating candy - everyone has one, but you don’t have one!”, and then you just had to blow on the bug and it would take off. And indeed, it took off!

So, this can be explained by the fact that ladybug very useful for people, as it saves crops from the main pest - aphids. The ladybug is a predator and can land more than two hundred insects in 1 day. So people noticed that where there are a lot of ladybugs there is always a rich harvest and they considered her a messenger of God, hence the name.

Ladybug eats aphids.

Do you also remember how they told us that by the number of dots on the back of a ladybug we can determine how old it is? This was a misconception. In fact, ladybugs live from several months to 1 year and rarely live beyond two years. But their points on the back determine their appearance, they are called 2-point, 7-point, 27-point, etc.

Seven-point has been known to everyone since childhood. Many children are not afraid of this insect. They come up with a lot of fairy tales and funny rhymes about him. This species was first described in 1758. This red insect, according to entomologists, brings great benefits to people. It destroys harmful insects that cause damage to plants in gardens and vegetable gardens.

Where does this insect live?

Of all the species, the most famous is the seven-spotted ladybug. It can be found in all European countries, except for the northern zones. In addition, this bug is found in North Africa and even in Japan.

But in North America, the insect could not bring much benefit. Despite the fact that it was brought to the continent, the red ladybug could not take root. There are only a few species left in North America that do not produce the desired results.

This insect prefers to live in grass groves, as well as in forest plantations, meadows, fields, plains and ravines. It is during the autumn period that ladybugs form large columnar flocks. The number of accumulated insects reaches several thousand.

Description of this species, developmental features

Initially, the ladybug has the appearance of a larva, the size of which does not exceed 1 mm. It only takes her one month to move to a new level of development.

Then it already has a size of 8 to 10 mm. The body of the larvae is usually gray in color, but the head is yellow. The spots on the sides of this insect are also of the same color. The body has segments on which black spines with hairs can be seen.

In order to get food, such a larva can climb to a height of up to 12 m. During the day, to be full, it needs to absorb about 100 adult aphids or 300 of its larvae. After a month, the larva enters the pupal stage. It takes about 12 days for a ladybug to fully develop and mature. But it all depends on the air temperature: the warmer it is, the faster the pupa will turn into an adult ladybug.

Description of the adult

The body, wings and abdomen of an adult insect are black. The wings are mainly red or orange in color with spots characteristic of this insect (7 points). For this reason, the seven-spotted ladybug was named so. Three points are on one red wing, and the same number on the second. But the 7th spot can be seen near the beetle’s head.

Adult ladybugs begin to appear outside in the first half of June, when it begins to warm up. In places where the heat comes faster, you can find ladybugs in May.

They eat aphids and can eat up to 60 adult pests in a day. A ladybug lives from several months to two years. The description of the larvae indicates that for growth and rapid development they eat much more aphids than adults.

Reproduction

A female ladybug can lay about 1,000 eggs throughout her life stage.

The eggs of these insects are oval. They measure up to 1.2 mm. The color of the laid eggs is orange. The shape of the masonry generally looks like a small pile. At one time, an adult female can lay from 20 to 90 small eggs. Basically, such clutches are located in safe places, that is, under leaves, blades of grass, and at the base of branches.

A large number of ladybugs can be observed precisely at the end of summer, when two generations of beetles have already hatched and developed. The larvae do not overwinter, since only adults can survive this period.

What types of ladybugs are there?

More than 4 thousand types are known. Ladybug species are divided into 7 subfamilies. Of these, the most interesting and popular types are distinguished:

Ladybug 2-point;

7-point;

12-spot ladybug;

13-point;

14-spot ladybug;

17-spot ladybug;

Asian ladybug.

What does this insect eat and what benefits does it bring to humans?

The seven-spotted ladybug is a predator. Moreover, at any stage of its development, it feeds exclusively on other bugs. It mainly eats various types of aphids, which live on all kinds of plants and trees. In addition, the bug eats the eggs of other insects: etc.

This beetle can most often be observed on fruit trees, currant bushes, as well as pine, aspen and bird cherry. The presence of such plants in the regions of our country indicates a large number of these insects.

What do gardeners think about the seven-spotted ladybug? How to attract this insect?

Is the seven-spotted ladybug a pest or not? Many gardeners, of course, will answer no. Thanks to this small insect, it is possible to preserve a significant amount of the crop. Aphids, which eat and damage many plants, are the ladybug's most important food source.

Those people who prefer not to use chemical compounds to kill pests on their plants believe that the ladybug is the best helper. But in order for the benefits of this insect to be more tangible, you need to maintain appropriate conditions in your area for the comfortable life of these red insects. To do this, you should not destroy all the aphids in the spring, and especially not resort to harmful chemicals, because then the ladybug will not come. It is better to leave a few aphids so that our insect can eat. This will attract ladybugs and they will stay in your area for a long time, helping to control numerous pests.

Conclusion

Now you know what a seven-spotted ladybug is, what it looks like, develops, and what it eats. It turns out that such a small bug can be of great benefit! In order to attract it to your garden or garden, you don’t need to do anything special - you just need to let natural processes occur naturally. Remember that in nature everything is interconnected, so it is important to maintain this overall cycle. It is also worth thinking about completely abandoning the use of all kinds of chemicals to protect the crop. Nature can take care of itself, you just need to help it a little!

Ladybugs are gardener's assistants.

These bugs, familiar to everyone since childhood, as well as their larvae, are natural enemies of aphids. Cute and beloved ladybugs are everyone's favorite helpers for gardeners.

Europe is home to only 100 species of ladybirds, or coccinellids, of the 5,000 members of this large family. Most species of ladybirds live in tropical and subtropical climates. Even the seven-spotted ladybug, familiar to us all, needs warmth. On warm days, ladybugs lead an active lifestyle - they fly faster and more. On cool days, ladybugs are less active.

The number, color and shape of the dots on the elytra of these insects have become distinctive features of various species. The number of dots, contrary to popular belief, does not say anything about the age of insects. Most of the ladybugs living in our latitudes feed on aphids. Others feed on coccids (scale insects and mealybugs), spider mites and even whiteflies. Very few species of ladybirds feed on plants and fungal spores. Many types other than animal food. They also eat plants - they feast on pollen and nectar. Not all ladybugs specialize in eating different types of aphids; some feed only on certain species, so they travel a considerable distance in search of food. The availability of food and weather significantly influence the development, growth rate and increase in the number of ladybugs.

Females reproduce only when food is available, then their eggs mature. Each female lays 400 yellow eggs in groups of 10-30 on the underside of a leaf, usually near an aphid colony. Ladybugs feed on coccids and lay eggs under the shell of pests. The larvae hatch from the eggs after 7-10 days. The larvae are long, dark-colored. They go through four to five growth stages before pupating. During this period, the larvae must actively feed. After 3-6 weeks they pupate on leaves or tree trunks. The pupae are round. Painted orange or black. After four to nine weeks, the pupae hatch into yellow-orange beetles with pale spots on the elytra. The full development cycle of a ladybug lasts from one to three months. Ladybugs give birth to one to two generations per year.

It is better to refrain from using chemical pest control products. Adult ladybugs and their larvae are very sensitive to insecticides. In the spring, we do not spray plants with chemicals against aphids, as we will deprive the adult generation of cows of the food necessary for laying eggs. You can help ladybugs by growing trees and shrubs in the garden on which various types of aphids will settle. In addition, ladybugs will find a good place for wintering on them.

As for wintering places, the following may be suitable for this purpose:

Hedges and piles of brushwood provide a safe place for wintering. We leave piles of fallen leaves and brushwood in the garden until spring. Dry rocky walls and old trees with deep crevices in the bark are ideal places for ladybugs to overwinter. An entire colony of ladybugs can overwinter in sheds, woodpiles and birdhouses, as well as in the walls of wooden houses. Ladybugs can overwinter in a piece of wood in which suitable holes have been drilled, or in bundles of reed stems. You can also help ladybugs, since they are among the worst natural enemies of aphids and some other pests. They do not have special adaptations for hunting aphids, therefore, after eating pests, they move to another plant in search of food. Ladybugs fly around many plants during the day. Searching for food takes a lot of their energy. Adult beetles (seven-spotted ladybirds) eat up to 150 aphids per day, and smaller species eat about 60. The larva of the seven-spotted ladybird eats at least 800 aphids for further development before pupation.

If suddenly you come across a ladybug in your garden that is more different from what you are used to seeing, then here is a brief description of the types of ladybugs:

Ocellated ladybird - length 8-10mm, yellow-red elytra with 20 black dots with light edges, found in forests, usually in pine forests (feeds on lice beetles), as well as on garden trees and shrubs.

The despotted ladybird is 3.5-5 mm long, the elytra are dark red or dark brown, each with five black dots, the most numerous of the species that prey on aphids in meadows and among tree or shrub plantations.

Fourteen-spotted ladybird - length 3.5-4.5 mm, over 100 different shapes, elytra red or yellow with 14 dark spots, preys on different types of aphids.

Spot ladybird - length 1.3-1.5 mm, black hairy elytra, yellow legs and antennae, lives on deciduous and fruit trees, feeds on spider mites.

Ladybug 22-spotted - length 3-4.5 mm, long lemon-yellow beetle with 22 black dots, does not eat aphids, feeds on mealy fungi on trees, shrubs, meadow plants and grapes.

The ladybug is streak-spotted - length 7-9mm, black elytra, decorated with numerous yellow spots. It feeds on aphids that attack coniferous trees.

Here is such a large family of ladybugs, we take care of them and feed them with aphids. Good luck to you.

Later it turned out that there are more than 1000 species of ladybugs (lat. Coccinellidae) in the world. They live in different places: some liked the plants on which aphids are found (these are apparently the laziest, or better to say, pragmatic - food is always at hand), others looked for the indescribable beauty of field grasses, while others liked meadows with a view on the stream, some preferred to sit on aquatic plants.

The most common species appears to be the seven-spotted ladybug (Cocinella septempunctata). Its black breast is decorated with a whitish spot in the anterior corner, and there are seven black dots on the red elytra (three on each elytra and one common scute). It is found in Europe, North Africa, Asia and feeds on aphids.

This is what a two-spotted ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) looks like.

It is curious that this particular ladybug was approved as the national insect of Latvia in 1991 by the Entomological Society of Latvia. She is useful, slow in nature, but this does not prevent her from defending herself well - it is thanks to her appearance and behavior that she is so loved in Latvia. In Latvian it is called marite, which is the name of the Latvian ancient deity Mara, who embodies earthly power.

And so - with 22 points (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata).

Recently I read about an amazing cow (Ailocaria hexaspilota Hope), the pattern on the elytra of which is truly worthy of surprise and philosophical treatises. This type of ladybug can only be found here in the south of the Far East. She first lives on bird cherry, and by the end of May she moves to Manchurian nut. He loves to eat leaf beetles. It is also surprising that flocks of amazing cows accumulate during the wintering period. Imagine how beautiful it turns out!

No matter how many dots decorate the back of a ladybug, it is beautiful to the envy of all insects and to the delight of people. Let's pay attention to these wonderful creatures!

Once, an artist I knew, who took my “painting talents” under his wing, insisted that six dots must be drawn on the back of a ladybug. Even at that moment I guessed that this was not entirely true. As children, we even believed that the number of dots on the wings indicated the age of the cow.

Later it turned out that there are more than 1000 species of ladybugs (lat. Coccinellidae) in the world.

They live in different places: some liked the plants on which aphids are found (these are apparently the laziest, or better said, pragmatic - food is always at hand), others looked for the indescribable beauty of field grasses, while others liked meadows with a view on the stream, some preferred to sit on aquatic plants.

With seven points.

According to the ladybug atlas, you may encounter a ladybug with the number of spots from two to twenty-six.

This is what a two-spotted ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) looks like.

Recently I read about an amazing cow (Ailocaria hexaspilota Hope), the pattern on the elytra of which is truly worthy of surprise and philosophical treatises.

This type of ladybug can only be found here in the south of the Far East. She first lives on bird cherry, and by the end of May she moves to Manchurian nut. He loves to eat leaf beetles. It is also surprising that flocks of amazing cows accumulate during the wintering period. Imagine how beautiful it turns out!

No matter how many dots decorate the back of a ladybug, it is beautiful to the envy of all insects and to the delight of people. Let's pay attention to these wonderful creatures! To find the answer to your question, use the form -