Ladybugs are one of the most fascinating creatures of the beetle family. The difference in their bodies is what makes them a family of bugs that is noteworthy. But Is It Even a Ladybug? There are many types of Ladybugs with a variation of colors ranging from scarlet to yellow to orange and even through to white or black.
Not all of them have black spots either. You can learn more about the spotless Ladybug later on in this article. The whole purpose for the Ladybug being brightly colored with spots is to ward off predators.
The Ladybugs want to let their predators know that they taste bad and could even be poisonous. This serves as a warning sign for the predators and keeps them away. Similar defense mechanisms are used by many other animals in the animal kingdom. The bumblebee presents a bright yellow color with black stripes which serves as a warning for its attackers, visible from a distance too. The attackers are forewarned about the danger as bumble bee stings could be potentially poisonous or fatal to them.
The same applies to the Ladybug. It releases a foul smelling and toxic alkaline substance from its body which tastes very bad to most birds and other potential predators. Likely, it would make them sick for a while — depending on the size of predator and how many they eat. Once the predator, such as a bird, eats its first Ladybug, it experiences a nauseous feeling from the toxins. Next time it sees the similar brightly colored body of another Ladybug with spots, it remembers what it went through and does not attack.
This is a natural phenomenon I wrote previously about, known as Aposematic Coloring. Having said that, there are still plenty of creatures which will hunt and eat Ladybugs. The Ladybug gets its number and color of spots through genes handed down over thousands of generations, mostly evolved even before dinosaurs were on earth, and even some bacteria. The spots have become one of the main forms of identifying the specific species to which a Ladybug belongs. The above image shows the different species in the Ladybug family.
You can see that the color of the body changes from red to yellow and through to orange. The number, shape, and color of the spots on their bodies have changed and evolved gradually from species to species. As you can also see from the picture, not all Ladybirds have spots. Depending on the species, they can have spots, stripes, or no markings at all. Seven-spotted ladybugs are red or orange with three spots on each side and one in the middle.
They have a black head with white patches on either side. Ladybugs are colorful for a reason. Their markings tell predators: "Eat something else! I taste terrible. They may also play dead. Birds are ladybugs' main predators, but they also fall victim to frogs , wasps, spiders, and dragonflies. Ladybugs lay their eggs in clusters or rows on the underside of a leaf, usually where aphids have gathered.
Larvae, which vary in shape and color based on species, emerge in a few days. Seven-spotted ladybug larvae are long, black, and spiky-looking with orange or yellow spots. Which of these beliefs are just myths? Are there any that seem like they might be real or reliable? Ask around to find out from others what beliefs they have about things in nature they think can predict the future.
You never know when you might stumble across a fortune telling device living in your own backyard! Did you get it? Test your knowledge. Wonder Words egg spot farmer orange hatch taste harvest stage bitter predator future myth larvae pupa poisonous disgusting prediction fascinate Take the Wonder Word Challenge.
Join the Discussion. Oct 23, Misti Feb 5, Feb 6, It has to be 19? Very interesting. Thanks for sharing, Misti! Donald Nov 16, Nov 17, Donald F. Vermillion III Nov 15, I was wondering if u could possibly tell me what an orange ladybug with no spots alive means?
And one other question if its possible Why does everything have t have meaning. Nov 16, Jennifer Feb 17, A ladybug landed on me today and it had six spots. What does that mean? Feb 19, Grace K: Nov 6, I think lady bugs are pretty how long do they live???????????????? Wonderopolis Nov 6, Aeden Oct 10, Wonderopolis Oct 12, I think that the read is interesting. Wonderopolis Sep 10, Brook D Sep 8, Wonderopolis Sep 8, Gwen H. Sep 4, When I searched ladybug on the search bar, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this post!
This is really interesting! Thank you for writing it! Wonderopolis Sep 4, Yuri Sep 3, Fluffy Sep 9, Wonderopolis Sep 9, Hi, Fluffy!! Wonderopolis Sep 3, Fluffy Sep 3, I always thought that a ladybugs' spots told you what 'group' they were in. I also thought that if a ladybug has more than 7 spots it was a queen? You're welcome, Khodaysa! Thanks so much for visiting Wonderopolis!
Taeyeon Sep 3, Hi Wonderopolis, I didnt even know that Ladybugs had wings like that I just thought they flew with there shell. Thanks for this information it was very interesting. Alex Bunce Sep 3, Lady bugs have 5 types of colours that makes them awesome I did not know that at all. Bertsch's Class Sep 3, Our class thought it was cool to see the video of the shell that protects the ladybug's wings.
Jennibngs' Class Sep 3, We think a ladybug's adaptations are cool. We like that the bright colors warn predators to stay away! It's interesting that birds can get sick from eating ladybugs, but they won't die.
Is it true that all ladybugs have their own wing pattern? Jordan Sep 3, As with everything in nature, this appearance has a purpose. The patterns and colors on the bodies of ladybugs remind would-be predators of the unpleasantness they experienced the last time they tried to kill a ladybug with its colorful appearance. Red with black spots is not the only color scheme for ladybugs, which are beetles.
Other color combinations are yellow with black spots, black with white spots and dark blue with orange spots, according to Michael E. Majerus in his essay on ladybugs in the "Encyclopedia of Insects. Some ladybugs have two spots; others seven. Still other species, like Cocconella novemnotata, have nine spots, four on each of its two forewings and one that straddles each forewing at the top of its body.
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