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Ladybug

Coccinellidae

Last updated: January 3, 2021
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Continue Reading after the facts...


Ladybug Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Coccinellidae
Scientific Name
Coccinellidae

Ladybug Conservation Status

  • Near Threatened

Ladybug Locations

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Central-America
  • Eurasia
  • Europe
  • North-America
  • Oceania
  • South-America
Ladybug Locations

Ladybug Facts

Main Prey
Aphids, Greenfly, Small Insects
Habitat
Woodland, hedgerows and meadows
Predators
Birds, Rodents, Reptiles, Insects
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
2,000
Favorite Food
Aphids
Common Name
Ladybird
Number Of Species
5000
Location
Worldwide
Slogan
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Ladybug Physical Characteristics

Colour
  • Brown
  • Yellow
  • Red
  • Black
  • White
  • Orange
Skin Type
Shell

Ladybug Images

Click through all of our Ladybug images in the gallery.

View all of the Ladybug images!

The ladybird (also known as the ladybug) is a small colourful beetle found all around the world. There are thought to be more than 5,000 different species of ladybird in the world, with more than 450 species found in North America alone.

The ladybird is best known for it’s spotted body (normally red and black, but often orange and yellow are found), and their ability to rid gardens of their aphid pests effectively. It is thought to be good luck to find that a ladybird has landed on you, and most definitely bad luck if you then squash it!

Ladybirds are small sized insects rarely growing to more than a centimetre in length. Ladybirds have size legs that are black in colour and their brightly coloured shell, protects the wings of the ladybird which are concealed beneath the spots.

Ladybirds are known to hibernate once the warm summer weather begins to cool. Ladybirds will hibernate in large groups in sites which are used year after year, and ladybirds are thought to hibernate in this communal fashion in order to increase their chances of surviving the cold winter. It is thought that pheromones are released by hibernating ladybirds which attract other ladybirds to hibernate in the same place.

Ladybirds are fearsome predators within their environment and are known as gardener’s friends as they munch all of the tiny pests that eat the plants. Ladybirds primarily eat aphids, greenfly, plant-lice and other small insects. It is thought that the average ladybird eats more than 5,000 aphids in just one year.

Ladybirds are prey to a number of animals in their environment that include birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, rodents and other insects. It is thought that the bright colour of the ladybird is used to deter hungry predators as they think that the ladybird will taste disgusting or is poisonous.

The female ladybird can lay more than 2,000 eggs in one year that hatch in just a few days. The ladybird larvae hatches out of the eggs and looks nothing like an adult ladybird as the ladybird larvae is long in shape and is generally one colour. After a couple of weeks, the ladybird larvae evolves into a ladybird pupa which is about the same size and colour as an adult ladybird but has a protective layer surrounding it, until it has developed its wings. Once the ladybird pupa has developed, it breaks out of the skin surrounding it to become an adult ladybird.

Due to climate changes and habitat loss, the ladybird is now considered to be one of the animal species that is threatened with extinction. It has been noted that ladybirds are particularly sensitive to temperature and will die from dehydration if it is much hotter than it should be.

View all 22 animals that start with L

Ladybug FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Ladybugs herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Ladybugs are Carnivores, meaning they eat other animals.

What Kingdom do Ladybugs belong to?

Ladybugs belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do Ladybugs belong to?

Ladybugs belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What class do Ladybugs belong to?

Ladybugs belong to the class Insecta.

What family do Ladybugs belong to?

Ladybugs belong to the family Coccinellidae.

What order do Ladybugs belong to?

Ladybugs belong to the order Coleoptera.

What type of covering do Ladybugs have?

Ladybugs are covered in Shells.

Where do Ladybugs live?

Ladybugs are found worldwide.

In what type of habitat do Ladybugs live?

Ladybugs live in woodlands, hedgerows, and meadows.

What is the main prey for Ladybugs?

Ladybugs prey on aphids, greenflies, and small insects.

What are some predators of Ladybugs?

Predators of Ladybugs include birds, rodents, reptiles, and insects.

What is the average litter size for a Ladybug?

The average litter size for a Ladybug is 2,000.

What is an interesting fact about Ladybugs?

There are more than 5,000 Ladybug species worldwide!

What is the scientific name for the Ladybug?

The scientific name for the Ladybug is Coccinellidae.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals

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