Ladybugs
What is a ladybug?
A ladybug is an insect classified as a beetle. An insect has
six legs, two antennae, two wings and three body parts –
head, thorax, and abdomen. Ladybugs actually have 4 wings.
Ladybugs can be red, orange, yellow, or black.
What are the parts of a ladybug?
Ladybugs have two pairs of wings attached to the middle section, or
thorax of their bodies. The inner pair of wings is used for flying.
The outer pair of wings, named the elytra is hard like a shell and is
used to protect the ladybug.
outer wings
legs
abdomen
thorax
legs
antennae
head
What do ladybugs eat?
Ladybugs eat aphids, small insects that suck the juice out
of plants. One ladybug can eat as many as 100 aphids in a
day! Lady bugs chew from side to side.
How do ladybugs move?
Ladybugs walk on six legs and have four wings, two of the
wings help them to fly. The legs on a ladybug have several
joints to help it move on leaves.
How do ladybugs protect
themselves?
Ladybugs use their bright color and pattern to warn
predators that they do not taste good. Some ladybugs
excrete a foul-smelling liquid from their legs. Ladybugs have
outer wings that serve as a hard shell when closed.
Where do ladybugs live?
Ladybugs live on plant leaves. Each type of ladybug likes to
each specific kinds of aphids. Ladybugs mate near the kind
of aphids they prefer to eat.
What is a ladybug’s life-cycle?
eggs
larvae
adult
pupae
Other interesting facts about
ladybugs.
Many ladybugs hibernate during the winter.
Some ladybugs have stripes.
Ladybugs have special organs in their feet to help them
smell.
A ladybug’s antennae help the insect to touch, smell, and
taste.
Ladybugs have been used for many years to get rid of insect
pests in the garden.