Ladybugs By: Macie Nguyen Hi. My name is Macie. I am going to tell you a little bit about ladybugs. Have you ever had a ladybug crawl up your arm? If so, then try not to kill it because ladybugs Are believed to be good luck. By: Macie Nguyen

What do ladybugs look like? The common ladybug we see has a red or orange body with black spots a hard shell that covers it’s wings a black head six legs it is less than a ¼ inch long it is oval or round in shape The common ladybug we see has a red or orange body with black spots a hard shell that covers it’s wings a black head six legs it is less than a ¼ inch long it is oval or round in shape

Ladybug Body Parts The Eye is used to see. The antennae are used to smell, taste and feel its way around. The pronotum is the part behind the ladybug’s head that protects the head and helps it hide. The abdomen holds the digestive system and the stinky, poisonous gel. The Elytra is a hard shell that protects the wings. The Wings are used to fly. The Legs are for walking and they ooze the stinky, poisonous gel.

Ladybug Life Cycle The ladybug life cycle includes the egg, larva, pupa and adult.

EGG The female lays yellow eggs on a leaf. In about a week a tiny larva hatches from each egg.

LARVAE Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will come out and start looking for aphids to eat. Newborn larvae look sort of like tiny alligators. After only a few days, the larvae will be large enough to begin to molt (shed their skin), and they keep molting for as long as they are growing.

PUPA After a couple of weeks of growing, the larvae will start to change into something that looks like a shrimp. During the pupa stage, the larvae are going through a metamorphosis into a ladybug.

ADULT When the metamorphosis is complete, the skin of the larvae will split open and the full grown ladybug will emerge

Ladybug Habitat Ladybugs live on leaves of trees, on flowers or in crop fields They prefer areas where there are lots of aphids Ladybugs live on leaves of trees, on flowers or in crop fields They prefer areas where there are lots of aphids

What do ladybugs eat? Ladybugs eat aphids, which are serious pests of plants. They also eat mites, white flies and scale insects-all of which are pests of plants. Ladybugs eat aphids, which are serious pests of plants. They also mites, white flies and scale insects-all of which are pests of plants.

Ladybug Predators Birds, dragonflies, tree frogs, assassin bugs, wasps, ants, parasites, mites, and stinkbugs. The Ladybug has many predators. Some predators include birds, dragonflies, tree frogs, assassin bugs, wasps, ants, parasites, mites and stink bugs.

Interesting Facts Because Ladybugs eat lots of aphids and other pest insects, many gardeners and farmers use them for pest control instead of chemicals. Ladybugs come in many colors like pink, yellow, white, orange and black. Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes bad so predators won’t eat them.  Ladybugs are actually beetles, so sometimes are called Lady Beetles. Because Ladybugs eat lots of aphids and other pest insects, many gardeners and farmers use them for pest control instead of chemicals. Ladybugs come in many colors like pink, yellow, white, orange and black. Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes bad so predators won’t eat them.  Ladybugs are actually beetles, so sometimes are called Lady Beetles.

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