* Aphids: These tiny, soft-bodied insects are a favorite food of ladybugs.
* Scale insects: These are small, immobile insects that suck sap from plants.
* Mealybugs: These are also sap-sucking insects, covered in a white, powdery substance.
* Spider mites: These tiny, web-spinning creatures can damage plants.
* Other small insects and eggs: Ladybugs will also eat other small insects like whiteflies, thrips, and even the eggs of other insects.
Ladybugs are considered beneficial insects because they help control populations of these pests that can damage crops and gardens.