ᐉ How to care for a ladybug

Ladybugs maintenance and care in winter

The dots do not indicate age, but what species the cow belongs to: two dots - two-pointed, five dots - ... (five-pointed), seven dots - ... (septipotent)
And now, attention - game! (Children are divided into three teams - two-, five- and seven-point ladybugs, each team must find an image of their ladybug in the group room and stand in a circle around it. The team that does this faster wins)

But what happened to ladybugs in one city, where black poisonous smoke poured out of the chimneys and the air was dirty. All the ladybugs in this city have changed color. From red they became black. When people noticed this, they got scared and took immediate action. After the air became cleaner, the cows turned red again. It’s good that our Crimean ladybugs are red and yellow, not black. Does this mean what kind of air do we have? (Children's answers). Clean. It would be nice if it were always like this.

Questions:

1. Why don't birds eat ladybugs? 2. What other method of protection do ladybugs have? 3. Who do ladybugs themselves eat? 4. How do you say “doll”, “sun” in Ukrainian? 5. What do you know about aphids? 6. How do ladybugs find aphids? 7. How are their babies born? 8. What behavior of ladybugs is a mystery to scientists? 9. Why do gardeners love ladybugs? 10. Do you and I have anything to thank these bugs for? 11. Why did the bug get its name? 12. What is another name for a ladybug? 13. How can you determine the cleanliness of the air by the color of ladybugs? 14. What kind of ladybugs are found in Crimea?

Handmade “Ladybug” (painting half of a large walnut shell to look like a “ladybug”).

Children's works on the theme "Ladybug"

Download lesson notes “Ladybug”

News and society

Classification by type

In total, the family unites more than 4000 species, divided into 7 subfamilies, which, in turn, unite 360 genera. You can identify the most interesting and original-looking representatives:

Two-point. The body length of this beetle is 5 mm. The elytra are dark red and have large black spots. The anterior carina on the prothorax is absent. The front wall has a yellow border on the side, and this part of the body itself is black.
Seven-point. In European countries this species is the most common. Its dimensions vary from 7 to 8 mm. The elytra are red, at their base there is one white spot of miniature size and 3 larger black spots. A seventh spot is found on the cheek.
12-point. This beetle is 6 mm long. The elytra are red or pink, and each of them has 6 dots.
13-point. Their body is elongated, the size ranges from 5 to 7 mm. There are 13 spots on the red-brown wings, some of which are combined with each other.
14-point. The main color of this species is black or yellow. If the wings are colored yellow, then their points are black, and vice versa. The body has a length of up to 3.5 mm. This species is found in European countries.
Asian. The length from the head to the edge of the abdomen is 7 mm. There are two subspecies, one of which has yellow wing covers and black spots. They can be small or large in size. The prothorax is white in color and decorated with a black pattern. The second variety has black elytra, on which 19 red or orange spots can be clearly seen.
Changeable. The body size reaches 5.5 mm. The pronotum is black, decorated with two yellow spots. There is also one large spot near the shield. A yellow border frames the edges of the front wall.

Life cycle of ladybugs

During the spring and summer months, the ladybug eats enough food and accumulates reserves for wintering. As soon as the cold weather sets in, these beetles begin to hibernate, and in the spring a new round of life begins, and those ladybugs that were able to survive the winter begin to lay larvae, but by the time the new generation reaches full life, these individuals are already dying. However, ladybugs have a very large population, so in nature we meet them quite often, both in the forest and in the concrete jungle of megacities.

In scientific books they are called “Coccinellidae”, or “Coccinellidae”, in other countries the ladybug is called differently: “St. Virgin Mary’s beetle”, “St. Anthony’s beetle”, “Sun”. In Tajikistan they are called “Redbeard Grandfather”. This name shows how sensitive summer residents are to beneficial insects.

How and with what to attract ladybugs to your summer cottage?

Ladybugs, also called St. Mary's beetles, are one of the most useful insects in the garden. The ladybug itself and its larva are very voracious, they destroy thousands of aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, mites, and scale insects. Therefore, it is necessary to attract ladybugs into the garden and create suitable conditions for them there for development and overwintering.

In some countries, ladybugs are bred for sale to gardeners. The ladybug larva resembles a worm, but it has 6 legs and is black or bluish-blue with orange stripes. The ladybug is a predator, but there are species that feed on nectar. The coloring of a ladybug warns birds of danger and they do not touch it.

How to attract ladybugs into your garden?

Read also: What crops are grown in China

1) You can catch and bring ladybugs and their larvae into the garden.

2) Under no circumstances use insecticides that destroy both harmful and beneficial insects.

3) Plant the following plants in the garden to attract ladybugs: dill, angelica, yarrow, tansy, some dandelions, buckwheat, sweet clover, navel, elderberry bush (attracts aphids).

4) Use artificial food “Wheast”.

5) Use of ferramone baits (attractants).

6) Create suitable conditions for overwintering. For this purpose, they buy or make themselves special houses for ladybugs, in which there are holes and shavings, bark, and dry leaves are placed. They need to be placed closer to the ground for better overwintering of ladybugs. Here are several houses made of wood, logs, and plastic.

There is a ladybug at home, what to feed it?

If you find a live ladybug in your apartment, help it survive until spring. The best way is to take it out of the house, but not to throw it into the snow, but to find a good shelter. A barn or garage is ideal for this purpose, where they can overwinter without any problems. Do not do this in severe frost, so that the temperature difference for the insect is not too strong.

Keeping an insect in the freezer until spring is not the best idea; the ladybug simply will not survive.

If you want to try to keep a ladybug alive at home, you need to know what to feed it and how to properly maintain it. Take any container, arrange a floor at its bottom from leaves, branches, sticks and transfer the ladybug there. We also recommend that in order to create optimal living conditions for the insect, put more straw and dry leaves into the container, loosely mixing them together, so that artificial crevices are created, which ladybugs so love to use as their lair. It is possible to use corn tops for shelter in a jar; it will perfectly close the insect’s home from prying eyes. At home, ladybugs are fed with sweet sugar water or honey; you can pour these mixtures into the cap of a plastic bottle. This food is a treat for the ladybug. In addition to sweet water, these beetles are fed raisins and pieces of ripe apples. Just like any pet, a ladybug needs some water.

Content Rules

Now let's figure out what ladybugs eat at home. It often happens that winter comes unexpectedly earlier than usual. Ladybugs do not have time to prepare for this and hibernate. In this case, insects do not have the opportunity to survive until spring. Only a person can help them. And then the question arises: what to feed ladybugs?

Insects are quite capable of surviving at home, and caring for them does not require much work. That small list of what you need to feed a ladybug can be found in every home. For this purpose, honey diluted in water, water sweetened with sugar, raisins and leaves of vegetable plants are suitable.

Ladybugs need to be placed in a cool place. One option is a window sill or a gap between the frames. The beetles need to be fed for several days. They will then hibernate until spring.

Now we know what ladybugs eat at home, and we can always help these cute and useful insects.

Where to find insects

Do you want to get some ladybugs? There is a lot of time for this - from early spring to the end of summer, insects are active and lead their usual way of life. Most often they are collected mechanically. To do this, they go to the edge of the forest, to a field, or to a ravine. But how can we see small insects in the motley, multi-colored palette of the plant world? It turns out that there are plants that attract ladybugs. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at tansy, yarrow, daisies, dill and other members of the Asteraceae family. If you do not come across these plants, go to a buckwheat field or a field sown with oats.

What does a ladybug eat in winter?

In winter, ladybugs do not feed on anything, as they hibernate or go into a state of suspended animation. Before winter, ladybugs accumulate glycerin and sugar in their tissues, and also remove large amounts of water from the body, so that when cold weather sets in and the body cools, they do not burst from the temperature change.

With the onset of cool days, insects begin to look for warm places to winter. Ladybugs can concentrate in large numbers in one place for the winter. Before wintering, insects fly in flocks over the city in search of a new shelter. Most often, ladybugs remain for the winter in heaps of dry leaves, in bark, under stones, in forests, in window cracks, sometimes organizing huge clusters. There are often cases when ladybugs fly into private houses and apartments, hide in window frames, behind curtains, behind baseboards and in other inconspicuous places, and then the owners find them in a sluggish state of winter suspended animation.

Ladybugs are very useful: they themselves and their larvae feed on pests - aphids. So if ladybugs decide to spend the winter in your garden plot, you can be sure that in the summer you will be protected from aphids in your garden. But do not rush to completely plow the area, otherwise you will lose your defenders from aphids for a long time. For this small predator, only the human hand is dangerous; they die en masse from the poisons that gardeners spray their gardens with. Therefore, leave a few places with fallen leaves so that the cows have a place to hide and survive the winter.

The ladybug has wings and is a flying insect; among them there are breeds that are called “migratory”. They are like birds; they can fly away for the winter away from their feeding area. But naturally, they hibernate there too, only in huge groups, sometimes even weighing several tons.

Features of a ladybug

The ladybug is an interesting insect. Its lifespan in its natural habitat reaches up to three years.

The bright color of the bug gradually becomes lighter. This is especially true for the dark spots on his back.

The size of an adult does not exceed 1 cm. The respiratory openings are located on the lateral surfaces of the body.

The bug is not harmful to humans, but when a threat arises, it is capable of producing an orange secretion that is toxic to other insects. If the smell doesn't work, he knows how to play dead.

An insect can successfully exist in an apartment, but for a relatively short time.

In enclosed spaces it is capable of making only small masonry. At the same time, both the younger and older generations remain alive.

Reproduction and life cycle

The female uses leaves and stems of plants to organize the clutch.

At one time she lays 200 - 400 eggs. It takes approximately 7 days for the larvae to emerge. Visually, they resemble miniature crocodiles.

In order to successfully pupate, the larva must eat at least 400 units of aphids.

The maturation of the larva goes through several stages. 30 days after leaving the egg they become pupae. After 7 days, young beetles emerge from the cocoon.

During this period, they completely repeat the appearance of their parents, i.e. have a characteristic bright color, which warns other insects of danger, and black spots on the shell.

Diet of ladybugs

What does a ladybug eat? This insect, despite its small size and friendly appearance, is a dangerous predator that feeds on other species.

The main portion of the diet is represented by aphids and their brood. If necessary, the bug catches other insects that do not exceed its size.

The diet of the small predator includes:

An adult is capable of eating 140–210 units of adult aphids or 390 larvae in one day.

The insect can burrow into the soil, reaching the root system of plants.

Here it also preys on parasitic aphids.

In the wild

What does a ladybug eat in nature? Bugs are found in gardens all over the planet, because they prefer to hunt not only small-sized representatives of the insect world, but also actively destroy various pests of agricultural crops.

What does a ladybug larva eat? After spring mating, mature females lay eggs in certain places. This could be a large colony of aphids or other small insects.

After the larva emerges from the shell, it begins to actively eat nearby insects until pupation. After completing this stage, the adult beetle feeds like its relatives.

At home

Sometimes ladybugs fly into apartments. If this happened in early or mid-autumn, then the bug can be left indoors for the winter.

To do this, it is necessary to organize a house for her that corresponds to shelter in natural conditions.

Place several thin twigs or sticks at the bottom of a liter glass jar and transfer the insect into it.

What do ladybugs eat at home? The insect can be fed with honey or granulated sugar dissolved in warm water.

The result should be a sweet liquid. You need to moisten a piece of cotton wool or gauze in it, which you place at the bottom of the jar.

What else can you offer an insect?

In addition to sweet syrup, ladybug will like:

soaked raisins;
a fully ripened apple, cut into slices;
lettuce – its white part.

Feeding is carried out twice a day. Give food to the bug in small quantities.

In addition to food, the insect needs to be given water. The container should only have clean water at the bottom so that it does not drown.

If we consider what ladybugs eat in winter, then nothing. During the cold season, they fall into deep hibernation.

Conclusion

Ladybugs are welcome guests in garden plots and agricultural fields.

They actively destroy pests, which form the basis of their diet, but they also do not refuse sweets in the form of ripe apples or grapes.

Video: TV show about a ladybug and its diet.

Growing at home

Not all insects in natural conditions can withstand the cold. It's the same with bugs living in an artificial environment. Therefore, if you decide to start growing them, get pets in the spring. The chances that your insects will be healthy and viable will increase. Moreover, with the arrival of the first warm days, the activity of beetles is not yet high, they stay in groups, and it is not difficult to collect them.

A house for ladybugs can be a plastic terrarium with a lid, a plywood box with slots for air circulation, or a wooden cage with a covered top.

Dry leaves, small branches or wood shavings should be placed at the bottom of the box. In such conditions, the insects will be comfortable, they can live for several months, overwinter, and begin to mate in the spring.

Potato ladybug

13.11.2018
Uncategorized

Ladybugs are small insects well known for their bright colors and lack of fear of humans. There are 5,200 species of ladybugs in the world, classified into the family of the same name in the order Coleoptera. Thus, numerous species of beetles are relatives of ladybugs. In autumn, ladybugs hide at the edge of the forest or in the foothills under large stones. It happens that a crowd of ladybugs hibernates in plain sight - on a tree trunk or on an ordinary pole. Ladybugs have a bright outfit so that they are not touched. It turns out that the cows have a threatening or warning coloration. And she warns about her inedibility.

The number of ladybugs mainly depends on the abundance of food - aphids. More aphids mean more consumers. During famine, the population of insects thins out. Ladybugs have an enviable appetite - each one needs fifty aphids a day. Ladybug larvae do not complain of lack of appetite either: about a thousand aphids are required for their full development. For humans, ladybugs can create significant inconvenience and irritation when they invade a home in large numbers. There are the following measures to eliminate ladybugs - these are (physical, natural insecticides, chemical insecticides, preventive).

Physical elimination

If the insects are close to the front door, take a broom and sweep them out.
You can get rid of ladybugs using a vacuum cleaner (if you do not have allergies or asthma).

Natural insecticides

Spray camphor and menthol wherever ladybugs are found. Mix any of the above with a small amount of water, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the liquid wherever insects may be hiding. This spray will repel insects, but will not kill them.
Use a soap and water trap. Ladybugs are attracted to light. If you place a clear glass bowl of soapy water near a window or lamp, it will create glare and reflections, making it attractive to ladybugs. When they try to get closer to her, they will fall into the water. To do this, just a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap will be enough. With its help, a film is formed on the surface of the water, which will not allow the insect to fly away, and it will drown.
Boric acid (also known as borax or borax) should be applied to any areas where you think ladybugs might be crawling. For boric acid to work, insects must come into direct contact with the powder. Once the borax gets on the ladybugs, they will die from dehydration after a while.

Preventive measures

Seal cracks in door frames, doors, windows, and anywhere else you find insects.
Place mosquito nets on the windows.
Seal window frames and doors with self-adhesive insulation.
As the weather starts to get colder, ladybugs will try to get into your warm home. During this time, you should cover the ventilation ducts with a very fine mesh to block the insects from getting inside.

Chemical insecticides

Create a barrier around window frames with insecticidal chalk.
If you decide to use chemical insecticides to control ladybugs, we strongly recommend that you limit yourself to barrier pesticides only. These chemicals should be sprayed where insects are likely to enter your home. Once the ladybug crosses the barrier line created by the insecticide, it will die after some time. To mix and use the pesticide correctly, follow the instructions on the package. Never use insecticides intended for outdoor use indoors, and vice versa. Typically, the chemical is sprayed onto a surface and remains there due to the insecticide's carrier (a support that acts as a substrate). Thus, the poison remains on the surface, waiting for an insect to crawl over it.

If the above methods did not help solve your problem with ladybugs, call the service of the Federal Budgetary Healthcare Institution “Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Altai Republic” - they will provide you with professional assistance. A professional will carefully assess the scale of the problem and determine the most appropriate method for solving it (Altai Republic, Gorno-Altaisk, Kommunistichesky Ave., 13. Tel: 8 (388 22) 2-20-55)

Interesting facts about ladybugs

In ancient times, these insects were used to predict the weather. If the bug flew away from the palm, then the day would be sunny, and when it remained on it for a long time, it promised bad weather.
In some religions, they are prohibited from harming or killing ladybugs. Anyone who did this would be in big trouble.
From time immemorial, the West has believed that the symbol of this insect brings good luck. Bugs were depicted on various items of clothing and accessories, and then worn as amulets.
When these creatures are very hungry, they can cover a distance of up to 12 meters in search of food.
An amazing feature of ladybugs is that they always return after wintering to their former habitat. To be more precise, their younger generation arrives, because their life span is short, only a year. Scientists have not yet found an explanation for this fact.

Why do ladybugs crawl into apartments?

Ladybugs have an enviable appetite - each one needs fifty aphids a day. Ladybug larvae do not complain of lack of appetite either: about a thousand aphids are required for their full development. For humans, ladybugs can create significant inconvenience and irritation when they invade a home in large numbers. There are the following measures to eliminate ladybugs - these are (physical, natural insecticides, chemical insecticides, preventive).

Physical elimination

If the insects are close to the front door, take a broom and sweep them out.
You can get rid of ladybugs using a vacuum cleaner (if you do not have allergies or asthma).

Natural insecticides

Spray camphor and menthol wherever ladybugs are found. Mix any of the above with a small amount of water, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the liquid wherever insects may be hiding. This spray will repel insects, but will not kill them.
Use a soap and water trap. Ladybugs are attracted to light. If you place a clear glass bowl of soapy water near a window or lamp, it will create glare and reflections, making it attractive to ladybugs. When they try to get closer to her, they will fall into the water. To do this, just a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap will be enough. With its help, a film is formed on the surface of the water, which will not allow the insect to fly away, and it will drown.
Boric acid (also known as borax or borax) should be applied to any areas where you think ladybugs might be crawling. For boric acid to work, insects must come into direct contact with the powder. Once the borax gets on the ladybugs, they will die from dehydration after a while.

Preventive measures

Seal cracks in door frames, doors, windows, and anywhere else you find insects.
Place mosquito nets on the windows.
Seal window frames and doors with self-adhesive insulation.
As the weather starts to get colder, ladybugs will try to get into your warm home. During this time, you should cover the ventilation ducts with a very fine mesh to block the insects from getting inside.

Chemical insecticides

Create a barrier around window frames with insecticidal chalk.
If you decide to use chemical insecticides to control ladybugs, we strongly recommend that you limit yourself to barrier pesticides only. These chemicals should be sprayed where insects are likely to enter your home. Once the ladybug crosses the barrier line created by the insecticide, it will die after some time. To mix and use the pesticide correctly, follow the instructions on the package. Never use insecticides intended for outdoor use indoors, and vice versa. Typically, the chemical is sprayed onto a surface and remains there due to the insecticide's carrier (a support that acts as a substrate). Thus, the poison remains on the surface, waiting for an insect to crawl over it.

Artificial development

We said above how a ladybug develops in nature: it lays larvae, which constantly feed and grow. But the wild is not the only place where they are born. The fact is that in some countries these cute bugs are grown in special laboratories. They do this in order to combat insect pests in the fields. For example, this is still done in Japan.

For the full development of these creatures, they are fed wasp larvae. This significantly increases the beetles' fertility (almost 10 times). After this, the ladybugs are released into the fields. As we have already noted, the purpose of this procedure is to destroy pests. These hardworking insects immediately get to work. In addition, gardeners note that a ladybug in the garden is also an indispensable assistant in the fight against various pests. All this makes scarlet beetles useful for agriculture.

Curious facts

Some world cultures prohibit the destruction of these insects, as there is a belief that such actions will bring trouble to their people. In many Western countries, this beetle is believed to bring good luck. His image can still be seen on clothing and jewelry.

There are many signs that are associated with this unique insect. It is noteworthy that they almost always foreshadow favorable events. If an insect lands on your hand or clothing, you should not drive it away, otherwise you can scare away good luck. A bug flew into the house - for a childless family this means the opportunity to have a child in the near future.

How birds sleep

Birds that spend the night not in tree branches practically sleep standing up. Why don't they fall to the ground? Birds have a long tendon, about the same length as the bird's leg, connected to a strong muscle. When the bird sits, the tendon stretches, acts on the fingers, and they compress, covering the branch. This mechanism is very reliable. It happens that dead birds are found on tree branches: they do not fall, because even after death their fingers continue to tightly grip the branch.

Many birds sleep with their heads tucked under their wings and their feathers raised to protect them from the cold. Herons and storks often sleep standing on one leg. Some parrots in South America sleep in an original way. They hang upside down, clinging to a branch with one leg. Some swifts sleep in a large ball.

Bird sleep is associated with some special metabolic issues. In birds, metabolism is very intense. The normal temperature of birds is 42 C, that is, the temperature that a person experiences only with a serious illness. During sleep, chemical processes in the birds' bodies slow down, and body temperature drops to 20 C.

Many water birds sleep "float". Often ducks and swans are captured by ice: while they sleep, the water around them freezes. Seagulls also sleep on the water. They claim that they can fall asleep for a short time during flight. The ability to sleep in flight is also attributed to birds that can make long flights, such as albatrosses. This may be true, but albatrosses undoubtedly spend most of their sleep on the water. Some animals sleep underwater.

What do ladybugs eat at home and why are they bred?

Some gardeners and businessmen raise ladybugs at home in transparent plastic containers, make very small holes in the lid, or cover them with gauze or mosquito net and feed them with a mixture of yeast and sugar. Why do they do this? To then release them on your site to combat aphids or for sale to other gardeners.

To create comfortable conditions for the life and reproduction of ladybugs, small plants are planted in their housing, which are populated by aphids, so the ladybug finds itself almost in a natural habitat, can hunt and lead an active lifestyle. In captivity, ladybugs reproduce better than in nature, and at the same time, adult individuals remain living with their faces at the same time.

When there are enough ladybugs in the container, they are put up for further sale; most often, gardeners buy them in large quantities, and keep the larvae and a few insects for themselves so that the cycle of ladybugs does not end.

Ladybugs are insects popular due to their bright colors. The best habitat for ladybugs is the wild, but if you are lucky enough to find an insect near your home and want to take care of it, it is not difficult to do so - provide the ladybug with food, water and recreate the natural conditions of its habitat.

How to care for a ladybug

Do you love ladybugs? The cold weather has set in, and you find a ladybug that has nothing to eat or drink because all the water is frozen? Do you want to help her? You can take her as a pet! Ladybugs love aphids, which are garden pests that can be found on plant leaves.

Part 1 of 3: Ladybug Detection

Find the ladybug. Look where ladybugs usually hide: under the leaves of plants infested with aphids (inspect roses and other flowers, or flowering fruit trees). Ladybugs also like to hide in crevices that can be found on buildings, such as window frames.

Ladybugs love aphids, it is their main source of food.

Take the ladybug.

Catch the ladybug with a net or your hands, just don't let it fly away. Cover it with your second palm, but do not crush it. Carefully place the ladybug in the jar and you can begin to take care of it.

Part 2 of 3: Arrangement of housing for the ladybug

Use a plastic container of sufficient size for the ladybug.

The size of the container should be sufficient for short flights and overnight sleeping arrangements. Add twigs, leaves and petals for variety (any leaves or flowers should be replaced daily to prevent rotting). Provide the ladybug with a place to hide, such as a hollow stick or a small toy with holes in it.

You can also use an insectarium.
It is not recommended to use glass jars as they overheat quickly and can burn the ladybug, especially if placed in direct sun.

If keeping the ladybug for more than 24 hours, use a hermit crab container.

They will not be able to get out of it, but at the same time they will be comfortable. Place fresh herbs inside daily. You will also need to feed the insect daily.

Meet ladybug

The ladybug is a classic example of an insect with a full cycle of transformation. That is, in her example we can see how a larva emerges from an egg, then a pupa, and then an adult. Each stage of development is interesting in its own way, let’s watch this process too.

Gardeners need to know what ladybug eggs look like so as not to confuse them with a disease or eggs of dangerous pests and destroy them. As we have already said, the ladybug is a beneficial insect, so it needs to be protected and not destroyed.

In due time, larvae emerge from the eggs. They are so small that it is quite difficult to see them with the naked eye. The larvae emerge from the eggs on the third day, each no more than a millimeter long, and already on the second day of life they will have their first molt. The emerging bug is large in size, and its color resembles that of an adult individual.

The larvae are mobile throughout the day, they fuss and constantly look for food, but the mother did everything to ensure that these searches were crowned with success. After all, the eggs were laid where there are aphid colonies. On the third day, repeated molting occurs, and their length becomes 5 mm.

Under natural conditions, most of the larvae die, because they do not have wings, and it is very difficult for them to escape from enemies. The larva looks strange, and only after examining it carefully, one can guess that this is a future ladybug. Therefore, amateur gardeners often destroy the larvae, believing that they are pest beetles. Having existed for a week, the larvae, after the next molt, grow even more, and their length is already approaching 1.5 cm. After this, pupation begins on the plant stem.

In nature, these processes occur more slowly, because the larvae have much less food than at home. The bug that appears as a pupa vaguely resembles a beautiful cow, its color is not the same.

Some people mistakenly believe that every year one dot appears on the back of an insect; all seven dots appear immediately after birth.

The main task of a newborn bug is to dry its wings, so it spreads them and folds them. The color of the back gradually changes, from yellow it turns into red, with funny dots. As a rule, the transformation occurs within a day, and the bug becomes a ladybug, the way we are used to seeing it. On the first day they do not fly, but run and eat.

Benefits of ladybugs

In many countries they even began to be specially bred, because their benefits in gardens and personal plots are enormous. Aphids are considered the most common pest in agricultural lands, and ladybirds eat them in large quantities. One adult is capable of eating 100 harmful creatures per day . However, only predators bring benefits.

Herbivorous species can destroy some crops. They eat tomatoes, sugar beets, potatoes, and cucumbers.

What do ladybugs eat?

The Latin name for these beetles is Coccinellidae. They were once separated into a family of the same name. The life of the so-called ladybugs is spent actively searching for food: they quickly run through plants and can fly long distances. They, like their larvae, feed mainly on harmful aphids. For this they were nicknamed aphids. But aphids are not the only source of food for ladybugs. These insects and their larvae destroy scale insects, spider mites, scale insects, leaf beetles, small green caterpillars, eggs of other insects, etc.

Entomologists are touched by this creature: the bug has an enviable appetite. One ladybug needs to eat up to fifty aphids and other larvae per day. How does a ladybug develop? By laying larvae, of course. So, for full development these creatures require about a thousand aphids! If ladybird larvae do not suffer from a lack of food, they develop very quickly. In one year, several generations of such larvae can grow at once. And everything directly depends on the food!

Types of ladybugs

All their diversity is divided into seven subfamilies, each of which consists of genera. The most common ones of interest are:

Adalia bipunctate or two-spotted beetle is a small species of beetle, no more than 5 mm in length. The color is predominantly dark red. Two black spots are located on the elytra. They have a yellow side border.
Coccinella septempunctata or seven-spotted - the maximum body size of these ladybugs does not exceed 8 mm. This species is most common in European countries. The elytra are red, on which spots are arranged in a certain order: white (one) at the base and three black ones on each of them.
Coleomegilla maculata or twelve-spotted - the specified number of spots are evenly distributed on the elytra, which have a pink tone. The maximum length of the body is 6 mm.
Harmonia axyridis or Asian ladybug - there are two subspecies, among which there is one common characteristic - the body length does not exceed 7 mm. One of them has yellow elytra with black dots and a dark white prothorax. The second subspecies, on the contrary, has black elytra, red spots, and a yellow prothorax. In total, this ladybug has 19 signs.
Cynegetis impunctata or pointless is a rare species of small size. Body length no more than 4.5 mm. They do not have the characteristic black dots. Color varies from red to brown.

Each species is special, has its own differences and characteristics. These are just a few of them, often found or of interest in European countries.

Nutrition

In spring and autumn, wet or dried raisins and pieces of cotton wool dipped in sweet water are placed in the boxes. Place wet moss (sphagnum) on the bottom.

It is very important to comply with these requirements, since moisture is no less important for them than food, and if both are not enough, they will die

In spring or early summer, there are few or no aphids at all, so ladybugs get all the nutrients they need for life from cotton wool moistened with sweet water. It, along with moistened cubes of refined sugar, is laid out on the floor of the box. After waking up, moisture is vital for insects. Therefore, every day, you need to spray water from a spray bottle in the box. Cows are given pollen from the first flowering plants, for example, coltsfoot. Insects love to feast on flowering willow. A jar with such a bouquet standing in water can be placed in a box or cage. In three to four days the bouquet will need to be replaced with a new one.

It is very difficult to feed the beetles without them flying out, especially if the air temperature is high. If possible, move the cage to a room with a temperature no higher than 15-17C. The light should not fall on the house, only then will it be difficult for the beetles to find their way to freedom.

If the air temperature rises to 20C or higher, the beetles will begin to show increased activity, fly continuously, refuse to eat, and fall. To prevent this, with the onset of hot weather, the cages are taken to a cold place, with a temperature no higher than 15C. You will notice how active insects will become calmer, their appetite will return, they will stop flying chaotically and begin mating. Choose a secluded corner where there will be partial shade most of the day, and place the box with bugs there.

Reproduction

At home, ladybugs reproduce well, and in the spring their numbers increase significantly. Plants that have aphids on them are placed in boxes; after a while, if you look closely, you can find aphid eggs on the leaves. Leaves with oviposition will need to be taken out and transferred to another cage or glass jar, and new ones will be placed on the cows. The eggs will be laid on the back of the leaves, perhaps this is how insects take care of their safety, so don’t be lazy to look under the leaves. Just make sure that you don’t add ants to the cows; they are usually located next to the aphids.

Nutrition and maintenance

In order to feed a ladybug, you need to know what it eats. Young individuals are very voracious. Ladybugs eat:

aphids are the main source of food;
psyllids;
scale insects;
scale insects;
ticks.

Therefore, they can most often be found under the leaves of trees and plants, as well as in crevices of buildings and wooden window blocks.

Transparent glass or plastic containers with a closed top are ideal for home improvement. The best option would be a bottle or food box with a lid. But we should not forget that every living organism requires oxygen for life and development, so small holes must be made in the lid to allow air to enter the container.

The cow's home should be of such a size that it can fly short distances. A twig or any object with an internal hole is perfect as a sleeping place so that the animal can hide there. For variety and beauty, you can add flower petals or grass to the “interior”. It is important to prevent the leaves from rotting and drying in the container.

, changing them every two days.

Food for keeping ladybugs at home can be:

sugar;
lettuce;
raisin;
apples.

Ideas for a summer residence that give a second life to a washing machine

Water plays a special role in the nutritional diet of any organism. For convenience, you can place a metal bottle cap in your home and fill it with water. The water level in the drinking bowl should not exceed the height of the beetle's body so that it does not drown. It is enough to feed and water the insect 2-3 times a day, but it is important not to overfeed it. Meals should be taken in small portions.

Ladybug, lesson notes on learning about nature

These ladybugs eat aphids, so they can often be seen where there are aphids. Other ladybugs can only be seen on field grasses; third - in meadows adjacent to streams; the fourth live only in trees. There are also ladybugs that can only be seen on reeds or other aquatic plants. Such insects have longer legs, which help them stay on plants that constantly bend from the wind.

The most famous species is the so-called seven-spotted ladybug. Its length is approximately 7–8 mm. It has a black chest shield with a whitish spot located in the front corner. There are 7 black dots on the red elytra. This type of ladybird is common in Europe, North Africa and Asia. These ladybugs feed on aphids and spider mites.

Most ladybugs are predators by nature. Herbivorous species of these cute insects are found in the tropics of all continents and in the subtropics of Southeast Asia. Among them there are also species that harm agriculture. There are 3 species of phytophagous ladybugs in Russia. There is a so-called 28-spot potato ladybug, which causes serious damage to potato and other crops in the Far East. The southern regions of Russia suffer from the alfalfa moth, which can damage alfalfa and sugar beet plantings. In the Smolensk region, Saratov and others belonging to the middle zone, as well as in the south of Russia, sometimes alfalfa, clover and sweet clover are damaged by the pointless ladybird.

All other species of ladybugs living in our country are predators. These beetles destroy aphids, psyllids, scale insects and mites, thereby bringing predatory ladybugs great benefits to agriculture.

Together with the article “What do ladybugs eat in nature?” read:

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Varieties of ladybugs

Despite the fact that there are more than 4000 species of ladybugs, we may not encounter many. Let's look at the most common and interesting varieties of these insects.

Ladybug seven-spotted

The most common species is the seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata), a bug up to 7 mm in length. It is impossible to confuse it with others, thanks to its red wing covers with 7 black dots.

Seven-spotted ladybug Found throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia. Destroys harmful insects - aphids and spider mites. Their larvae are especially voracious, and they are not at all similar to the cute adult bugs. It is the larvae that are our main helpers in the garden. One such individual during its development period eats from 400 to 3000 aphids! In order not to confuse beneficial insects with harmful ones, you should be very careful and observant. When you see similar bugs on plants, watch them, what they do, what they eat. Adults also have an excellent appetite and eat at least 200 different insects per day. The seven-spotted ladybird was introduced to America, where it had not previously lived, to control crop pests.

Ladybug rhodolia

The rhodolia ladybug (Rodolia cardinalis) is a red bug with a black pattern on the elytra. She is known for helping to save plantations of orange and tangerine trees in many countries - America, France, Algeria, Japan and Russia.

Rodolia. Photo from bing.com

Citrus orchards were attacked by the Australian grooved bug and were on the verge of destruction. Rhodolia was imported and released onto trees. Females of this species lay up to 800 eggs per scale insect laying. The hatched larvae first eat all the eggs, and then are mistaken for adult pests.

Ladybug two-spot

The two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) lives in the Northern Hemisphere. An adult insect is up to 5 mm long and has one black spot on the red wing covers. Despite its slowness, it destroys aphid colonies and brings tangible benefits.

The two-spotted ladybug lays eggs. Photo from eco-mir.org

Ladybug seventeen-spotted

The seventeen-spotted ladybug (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata) is a medium-sized bug (2.5-3.5 mm in length) of a spherical shape. The color of the back is often bright yellow, sometimes darker, with 17 black dots. It lives mainly in European countries, where it is found on sandbanks near rivers, in meadows and roads. It feeds mainly on aphids.

Ladybug seventeen-spotted. Photo from freenatureimages.eu

Ocellated ladybug

The ladybug (Anatis ocellata) is large, its body length reaches 10 mm. On the red back there are black dots surrounded by a yellow rim. The head and front part of the back are black with small yellow spots.

Ocellated ladybug. Photo from macroclub.ru

Where to begin

Before you start implementing your plans, you need to consider many factors and think things through carefully. Including the following question: where to put the products? Ladybugs, in large quantities, can be sold to greenhouse farmers, gardeners, and agronomists, who will send them to the fields. You can sell little red bugs via the Internet; those who want to purchase such a product will not have to wait long. Thus, you can sell both collected and grown bugs.

How to calculate the volume of goods? Insects are counted not by quantity, but by weight, since they are mobile, and this is not easy to do. In our country, one ladybug costs from one ruble.

Undoubtedly, in order for the cultivation of any living beings to be successful, and therefore profitable, knowledge is needed. It is necessary to collect as much information as possible about the behavior and reproduction of insects, but we will talk about this a little later.

Interesting Facts

In the wild, ladybugs can live up to 3 years.
The length of an adult reaches 1 cm.
During the life cycle, the spots on the back of the ladybug gradually lighten.
The ladybug breathes through holes located on the sides of its body.
When threatened, ladybugs secrete a yellow liquid that is toxic to other insects. And if this does not help, the cunning spotted bug can pretend to be dead and tasteless.
For a summer resident, a ladybug is one of the most welcome guests and a hardworking assistant in the garden.
In suitable conditions, a ladybug can live for some time in enclosed spaces, for example, in apartments. There she will lay up to 20 eggs and soon not only the children, but also the parents will be happy.

origin of name

The ladybug got its name due to its rich and bright color. In Latin it sounds "coccinellidae" - from "coccineus", which means "scarlet". The popular nickname given to this insect testifies to people’s sympathy for this insect. The Czechs, for example, call it the sun, the Germans call it the bug of the Virgin Mary.

Similar names are used by Latin Americans, who refer to it as St. Anthony's cow.

To fly, ladybugs use their two hind wings. Over the long centuries of evolution, the front ones have turned into hard elytra. Now they play the role of a protective shell while the bug crawls along the ground. Cantharidin, which is a yellow, caustic liquid, is used by adults to repel birds and other predators. It has a specific smell and works quite effectively.

Also, the bright colors have a frightening effect on potential ill-wishers. The color of the insect can be deep red, yellow, dark blue, black or brown. The spots on the skin can vary in configuration and be red, white, or yellow.

In some species, the spots merge, forming peculiar patterns, while in others they are completely absent. Often, a pattern on the pronotum can indicate the sex of the beetle.

Almost none of the insects and animals are capable of causing harm to representatives of the group in question. However, dinocampuses are an exception to the rule. They are not afraid of toxic hemolymph or bright colors. These insects attack adult cows and lay their own eggs in their bodies. As these parasites develop, they destroy their host .

What you will need

Sugar, aphids or honey
Leaves
Container
Bottle caps
Ladybug
Grass
Stones
Sticks

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Each of us has been familiar with these small, cute bugs since childhood, whose red bodies are decorated with funny black dots. It turns out that these harmless creatures are capable of destroying entire hordes of dangerous garden pests that cause a lot of trouble for people. Gardeners and gardeners are well aware of aphids, as well as what the proximity to them can lead to. But, having settled, for example, ladybugs on your plot, you don’t have to worry about your harvest; aphids will not harm it.

Of course, it will be very difficult for one insect to cope with such a task, which means you need to turn to those who raise large numbers of insects for help. And try to buy a large batch from them.

The idea of building your own business by growing ladybugs seems tempting to many. Today we will talk to you about what you need to know and do to make this activity not only enjoyable, but also profitable.