Facts About Lady Bugs

Ladybugs, also known as Coccinellidae, are a type of small beetle often found in gardens. Coccinellidae means "little sphere," referring to a ladybug's shiny, brightly colored shell body. The term "ladybug" is considered to be a slang term for the correct name, "lady beetle." There are around 5,000 different species of this beetle in the world. Four hundred species are found in North America.

  1. Size

    • Female ladybugs are often bigger than the males. The average sized ladybug is between two and 10 millimeters.

    Life Span

    • Most Ladybugs live around one year. However, some species can live up to three years in appropriate living conditions.

    Location

    • Ladybugs live in temperate climates worldwide. They live among trees, bushes, shrubbery, weeds, flowers and forests. Ladybugs occasionally infest human homes.

    Defenses

    • The bright colors on a ladybug's shell warn predators that ladybugs will make them sick if ingested, since many brightly colored insects are poisonous. When under stress, a ladybug releases an orange bad smelling and tasting chemical known as "reflex bleeding."

    Fun Facts

    • Although ladybugs enjoy living in human's homes, they do not chew or damage wood and furniture. When a ladybug flies, its wings beat 85 times per second. Ladybugs sleep at night.