Elly Shofia
Ladybug is a type of insect that has 5,000 species spread throughout the world. This beetle is small with striking colors and black spots.
Ladybugs are hemispherical and generally 8-10 mm long and can live for 2-3 years. Its legs are small and short, it has small wings, and the upper part of its body is bright colors such as red, orange, and yellow.
This beetle can be found almost worldwide, especially in temperate climates. Usually, its habitat is in forests, gardens, patches of wild grass, and empty land full of weeds.
Most people like this insect because of its beautiful shape and color. In addition, farmers also like this insect because it eats other small insects that are plant pests.
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Contents
Ladybug is a Predator
Ladybugs are predators that eat any prey they catch. However, some species can only eat one particular type of beetle or mite.
These insects consume various prey, such as aphids, mites, mealybugs, small caterpillars, insect eggs, whiteflies, mites, and psyllids.
An adult ladybug can eat up to 75 fleas per day. Therefore, these insects are quite helpful for farmers.
These insects are sometimes deliberately collected and sold to farmers and gardeners. Farmer is used to control insect pests such as aphids, scales, and mites.
Even though it is a predator, this insect is also prey to other predators. Predators of these insects are birds, spiders, and insects that are larger in body size.
Ladybug Breeding
Ladybugs undergo complete metamorphosis, namely egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs are oval and yellow.
After the mating process, the female will store the male’s sperm for 2-3 months before laying eggs. The eggs are then laid under the leaves.
It takes 4-10 days for the larvae to hatch from the eggs. Not all eggs will hatch because they are usually eaten by other predators.
These insects will lay their eggs under leaves, usually near aphid colonies. Female insects that have just laid eggs on a plant will leave bite patterns on the leaves, and other females do not lay eggs on the same plant.
The larvae then turn into pupae for approximately one week. After passing through the pupal phase, the adult ladybug emerges.
Color and Spot Functions
Ladybugs have bright colors with black spots. This color has a function to prevent predators from preying on them.
This bright color suggests that insects are not delicious to eat. When disturbed, these insects will release foul-smelling chemicals from their legs to repel enemies.
Predators know that the bright colors of insects can have an unpleasant taste and even be poisonous. Therefore, other predators avoid this insect; the color function of this insect works quite well.
Ladybug Is a Cannibal
Apart from being a predator of several types of beetles and mites, ladybugs also pose a threat to their own species.
In the intestines of some of these insects, body remains of this type of insect were found. This indicates that these insects eat members of their kind and are cannibals.
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Hibernates in Winter
Like most insects, ladybugs in four seasons also hibernate in winter. These insects will gather in large numbers.
During hibernation, they survive by utilizing the food supplies in their bodies. They will become active again when winter ends.
In winter, these insects spend the winter outdoors. Such as in leaf litter, under tree bark, in natural crevices, or migrating and hibernating on mountain tops.
In female ladybugs, if they cannot find a suitable plant to lay their eggs before winter approaches, they will delay releasing their eggs until winter is over.