Likeable Ladybugs Also Known as Lady Beetles or Ladybirds

Interesting Facts  Males are also called ladybugs  Friends to gardeners  Eat aphids, mites, and mealy bugs  Over 300 species and not all have spots  Brown, red, yellow, and orange

Ladybug Anatomy  Head  Antenna  For smelling and tasting  Abdomen and thorax  Reproductive system  Stinky defensive gel  Pronotum  Protects head  Elytra  Hard shell shows colors and patterns  Protects wings  Wings  Two pair

Ladybug Anatomy Head Eye Pronotum Antenna Leg Abdomen (under wings) Wing (under Elytra) Elytra

Life Cycle – Four Stages  Egg  Larvae  Pupa  Adult  Female lays eggs under a leaf  Larvae grow for two weeks  Resemble tiny alligators  Pupa sleep for days  Resemble shrimp  Emerges as soft, pink beetle  Shell hardens, changes color in two hours

Plants That Attract Ladybugs  Marigolds  Cilantro  Coriander  Dandelion  Fennel  Dill Ladybugs wanted: Coccinella novemnotata Adalia bipunctata C. Trifasciata