A kind of beetle with a red, oval-shaped body with black markings, ladybugs (also known as ladybirds and lady beetles) are a common sight. Red is the most prevalent color of ladybugs, however some varieties have yellow, orange, grey, or pink bodies.
Ladybugs’ wings may also be covered in tiny flecks, such as pink, red, black, yellow, or white flecks. The ladybug’s wings may have up to 13 specks in the top section. Red is one of the various colors of ladybugs. Black with crimson dots, white with small black lines, and striped bodies are among the colors of ladybugs. From about 1 mm to about 10 mm in length, ladybugs may be found. Ladybugs are also known as flying beetles in many English-speaking nations, such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
There are a few additional insects that resemble ladybugs but aren’t officially ladybugs. The clerid beetle, scarlet lily beetle, and Colorado potato beetle are among the fake ladybugs you may find. Ladybugs (ladybirds) come in over 6,000 different varieties across the globe. In the United States, there are about 150 ladybug species.
Convergent ladybugs, California lady beetles, seven-spotted ladybugs (C7), 22-spotted ladybugs, Cardinal ladybirds, and pink spotted lady beetles are some of the most common varieties of Ladybugs. Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, Colorado potato beetles larvae, and other insects that damage crops are classified as beneficial flying bugs by most ladybird species.
Around 90% of the several hundreds of ladybug species are predators, according to certain counts. Aphids, which can destroy crops such as potatoes, grain, and legumes, are helped by ladybugs. In reality, as a natural way to control pests, organic gardeners purchase live ladybugs. There are some harmful ladybug species, despite the fact that most of them are beneficial. The Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis), which feeds on bean plants, is one of the destructive ladybugs.
The Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis), which belongs to the Coccinellidae family of ladybugs, is another kind of pest. You’ll learn about the differences between ladybugs in this article. You’ll also learn how to differentiate between ladybugs and the Asian lady beetle, which many consider a invasive pest.
Ladybug Life Cycle
Ladybug larvae emerge from eggs and complete their life cycle as adults. These larvae are very beneficial in pest management because they gorge on aphids. The larvae then develop into a yellowish-brown pupa with black markings, which is the most common form. An adult ladybug beetle emerges after a few days and starts feeding on tiny insects.
Types of Ladybugs (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
Ladybug species are beneficial to your garden and the majority of them are harmless. You should also be confident that if you discover a ladybird (ladybug) in your house, it is a native species. They don’t bite or transmit illnesses, so they’re totally harmless. Ladybugs are found all over North America, Europe, and other countries in a variety of colors.
Convergent Ladybug (Hippodamia convergens)
The most common ladybug species in North America is the Convergent ladybug, also known as lady beetle. The dome-shaped back of the convergent ladybug is dark orange with 12 black spots of varying sizes. The size of this ladybug varies between 4 and 7 mm. Convergent ladybugs, as well as whiteflies and other insects, are commonly used to control aphid populations. They eat aphid colonies.
California Lady Beetle (Coccinella californica)
The California lady beetle has a red domed back without any black markings, unlike other lady beetles. The black line running down the middle of the back of California ladybugs is a distinguishing characteristic. It is usually black with a white patch on either side of its skull. This 5 mm native Californian lady beetle
C-7 (Seven-Spotted Ladybug) – Coccinella septempunctata
One of the most common native ladybirds in Europe is the seven-spotted ladybeetle. C-7 is a nickname for this term. The C-7 has been successfully introduced into states in the United States, despite being common in Europe. On its back, this sort of ladybird has seven spots.
On either side of its wing covers, there are six similar-sized black spots, and in the center just behind the pronotum, there is a bigger black spot. Like the California ladybug, the C-7 ladybug has a black head. Adult ladybirds of the seven-spotted variety may grow up to 10 mm long and are one of the bigger species.
22-Spot Ladybug (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)
due to its bright yellow color, the 22-spot ladybug is a type of ladybird that favours mildew fungus on shrubs. This little lady beetle has 22 spots on its pronotum and five on its back, as the name implies. The Coccinellidae family of beetles includes the 22-spot ladybug, which is barely 5 mm long. The 22-spot ladybug eats mildew that forms on bushes, unlike other aphid-consuming ladybugs.
Cardinal Ladybird (Vedalia Ladybug) – Rodolia cardinalis
The Cardinal Ladybug isn’t a typical ladybug because it has black exoskeleton with red marks on its back. Adults of this kind of ladybug grow only to about 2 to 4 mm in length, making it a tiny insect. The Cardinal ladybug, which is native to Australia, uses aphids, tiny mites, and scale insects as food. It’s been effective in pest management in orchards in Australia and California.
Pink Spotted Lady Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata)
The Colorado potato beetle is controlled by the pink spotted lady beetle, also known as the twelve-spotted lady beetle. The pink-spotted lady beetle has an oblong body rather than an oval one, unlike other ladybugs. Each pink-colored wing cover has six black markings. The Colorado potato beetle infestation is controlled by the pink spotted lady beetle, which thrives along the shore.
Hadda Beetle (28-Spotted Potato Ladybug) – Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata
Because this ladybug feeds on and destroys potato crops, it is known as the hadda beetle. Each wing cover of the yellow-orange colored insect has 14 black marks. At the head end, the oval body is larger. The Hadda beetle can be found in several Southern Hemisphere countries, with India as its home.
Two-Spotted Ladybug (Adalia bipunctata)
The two-spotted ladybug is a common red lady beetle found throughout Europe and North America. It gets its name from the two black marks on its back. The two big white spots on the pronotum of this species of lady beetle are one of its most distinguishing features.
The beetle’s appearance is altered to appear to have two large eyes. More than two spots are seen on certain Adalia bipunctata species. To help control agricultural pests, this kind of lady beetle is widely used in Europe and North America.
Twenty-Spotted Ladybug (Psyllobora vigintimaculata)
Because of its cream-colored back and brown markings, the twenty-spotted ladybug is a kind of tiny beetle. This ladybug may be very difficult to find due to its tiny size of just 2 or 3 mm.
Orange-Spotted Ladybug (Brachiacantha ursina)
The orange spotted ladybug is a unique species of ladybug with an orange-spotted body. The Ursine Spurleg Lady Beetle is also known as this. The dome-shaped back of this gleaming black insect is oval, and the insect has an oval body. A number of bright orange or yellow markings cover each wing cover. The orange-spotted ladybug, which measures just 3 to 4 mm in size, can be difficult to spot.
Three-Banded Ladybug (Coccinella trifasciata)
The three-banded lady beetle is another member of the Coccinella family, and it’s appropriately named. This indigenous North American lady beetle has three black bands wrapped around its orange body. This insect has been compared to a tiger by some. This is another kind of little ladybug, measuring just 4 mm.
Eye-Spotted Ladybug (Anatis mali)
The eye-spotted ladybug (Anatis mali) is a common sight, and it’s simple to see how it got its name. A number of markings resembling little eyes are found on each wing cover. The large ladybug has a unique appearance because of its distinctive markings. This species, like the Northern European 7-spotted ladybird, is around 7 to 10 mm in size when compared to other ladybugs.
Fifteen-Spotted Lady Beetle (Anatis labiculata)
The white or black purple variant of the fifteen-spotted ladybeetle has black patterns on its body. The markings on either side of its wing covers give it a round, oval appearance. The size of this ladybird ranges from 7 to 9 mm. A deep purple body is also found in one type of the 15-spotted ladybug species.
Ladybug Classification and Other Facts
Ladybugs are a kind of beetle, and a close-up picture of one (also known as ladybird or lady beetle) The Coccinellidae family is a member of the Cucujoidea superfamily of beetles. Fungus beetles, bark beetles, fruit worm beetles, and lady beetles are among the insects that belong to this family.
- Ladybug Kingdom: Animalia (All animals)
- Ladybug Phylum: Arthropoda (Invertebrates)
- Ladybug Class: Insecta (Insects)
- Ladybug Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Ladybug Super Family: Cucujoidea (Super Family of Beetles)
- Ladybug Family: Coccinellidae (Lady Beetles)
The size, color, quantity of markings, and habitat determine the lower classification of ladybirds. Coccinella septempunctata, the most prevalent lady beetle in Europe, is a red-colored variety with seven spots. The most prevalent ladybug species in North America is Hippodamia convergens, which belongs to the Coccinellidae family.
What Ladybugs Eat
The fact that ladybirds eat almost anything makes them extremely useful. Apart from aphids, what do ladybugs eat? Different types of ladybugs consume diverse foods, according to researchers. Here are some examples of ladybugs’ food:
- Mealybugs, scale insects, and aphids are the preferred foods of most ladybugs.
- Ladybugs may drink water, honeydew, or eat nectar from flowers depending on their food source.
- Ladybugs known as the Halyziini feed on fungal growths on plants and are members of the Coccinellidae lower classification.
- Lady beetles of the little Stethorus utilis species eat mites and other tiny insects.
Bugs that Look Like Ladybugs
Several insects that look like ladybugs (Coccinellidae) are classified as non-ladybug beetles or bugs. Because they look similar to genuine ladybugs, these fakes may be difficult to differentiate from them. The clerid beetle, scarlet lily beetle, and Colorado potato beetle are among the varieties of beetles that exist.
These beetles resemble ladybugs but are, in fact, impostor ladybugs. The Clerid beetle, Scarlet lily beetle, and Colorado potato beetle are examples of bug species from the Coccinellidae family that look like ladybugs.
Despite their outward resemblance to native ladybugs, Asian lady beetle behavior is distinct. As a result, they are widely considered an invasive pest. It’s important to understand more about ladybug impostors in order to differentiate between them.
Asian Lady Beetle (Japanese Ladybug)
To limit the number of crop-destroying pests, the multicolored Asian beetle (Japanese ladybug) was brought into the United States and other nations. The Asian beetle, on the other hand, has caused a lot of bother for many individuals. In many countries, the Asian lady beetle is becoming a pest.
Native ladybugs bite, causing allergic skin responses, while Asian lady beetles look similar but are biting. Asian ladybugs migrate to warmer areas in the late autumn and early winter. Large groups of bees can swarm and enter houses. An itchy bite from biting ladybugs may also occur on exposed skin. When crushed, Asian ladybugs emit an odorous, slimy fluid that is not found in native ladybugs.
The Coccinellidae family and the Coleoptera order both include the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis). The Japanese ladybug, Halloween ladybeetle, harlequin, and multicolored Asian beetle are some other names for this invasive pest. Asian lady beetles come in a variety of colors, according to scientists.
Winged insects that are between 5 and 8 mm in length with an oval body, Asian ladybugs are a common sight. The bodies of many Asian lady beetles are crimson with black dots. They might be orange or cream in color, with or without markings.
Asian beetles have a similar life cycle, being classified as a genuine member of the lady beetle family (Coccinellidae). Larvae eat soft plant food after the eggs have hatched. Before becoming a pupa, they molt their skin four times. They eventually emerge as adult Asian lady beetles from their pupa stage.
Caulk seams around windows, doors, and pipes to prevent swarming Asian ladybugs from invading your home. Since the “bugs” have been reported to return year after year to the same location, this is critical in preventing new infestations.
The Asian Lady Beetle is a Ladybug Imposter that Bites
Asian lady beetles, not Convergent lady beetles or the 7-spot ladybird, are likely to have bitten you if you were attacked by a ladybug. What is it like to have a Asian lady beetle bite? Those flying ladybugs don’t bite, thankfully. According to scientists, the bite feels like a pinprick and has just minor side effects.
The Asian kind of ladybug, unlike the innocuous native ladybugs, produces stinky yellow fluid. Allergy skin disorders or asthma may occur in certain individuals.
Ladybug vs. Asian Beetle (Asian Lady Beetle)
It can be difficult to distinguish between good ladybugs and biting Asian lady beetles. Both appear to be of the same size and shape. The markings on their head and the bite, for example, are obvious indicators that differentiate them.
Bite – The bite is one of the most significant distinctions between ladybug and Asian beetle. Native to North America and Europe, ladybugs are not biting beetles. Asian ladybugs have been known to pinch the skin, as previously stated.
Swarming nature – The swarming behavior of Asian beetles is the other distinction between ladybug and Asian lady beetle. It’s likely a native ladybug species if you spot a lone ladybird. Asian beetles, unlike native ladybugs, swarm in large numbers and cover windows quickly. Swarming beetles are attracted to warm surfaces during the autumn.
Head marking – The markings on the ladybug’s head are another distinguishing feature from Asian ladybugs. On the pronotum of Asian lady beetles, where their head meets the body, there is a white “M” shaped spot. It’s usually black in color and covers the portion of their body between their head and torso.
Before trying to get rid of the Asian beetles, be aware of their “reflex bleeding.” The red flying insects release a staining acidic yellow fluid when they sense danger. Harmless Ladybugs do not do this. As a consequence, Asian ladybugs are more aggressive and may harm dogs. According to one report, Asian beetles were found in the dog’s mucosa (soft tissue) during a checkup. After the beetles released a poisonous chemical, the dog’s mouth became inflamed.
It is claimed that the dog finds it difficult to get rid of the beetle once it has gotten into its mucosa, and manual removal is usually required. Some veterinarians have stated that dogs ate Asian beetles and suffered nausea and diarrhea as a result.
How to Get Rid of Asian Lady Beetles
The best way to get rid of Asian lady beetles in your house is with a vacuum cleaner if you’ve identified them. It prevents crushing them and avoids staining clothing or dealing with the pungent odor they produce.
You’ll need to plug any openings where they might sneak into your house after you’ve removed them. Pheromones left behind by Asian ladybugs will continue to draw these flying insects to your house year after year.