![]() In only a week or two later, the pupa becomes an adult ladybug. When they reach full size, they attach to a leaf by their tail, and a ‘pupa’ is formed. Seven-spot ladybird larvae are long, black and spiky-looking with orange or yellow spots – some say they look a bit like small alligators! Larvae grow quickly and shed their skin several times. Larvae, which vary in shape and colour depending on the species, emerge in a few days. Ladybirds lay their eggs in clusters or rows on the underside of a leaf, usually where aphids have gathered. ![]() Simple, eh? Birds are ladybugs’ main predators, but they also fall victim to frogs, wasps, spiders and dragonflies. These brilliant bugs have another trick to avoid danger, too – remain still and pretend to be dead. When threatened, the bugs secrete an oily, yukky, yellow fluid from joints in their legs – and their colouring acts a reminder to any peckish predators who’ve eaten their kind before that they taste disgusting! Their head is black with white patches on either side. The ladybird’s bright colours act as an important defence mechanism, warning animals they’d best not eat them. Seven-spotted ladybugs are red (or sometimes orange) with three spots on each side and one in the middle. Depending on the species, they can have spots, stripes or no markings at all. Most ladybirds have oval, dome-shaped bodies with six short legs. And boy do they eat – in it’s year-long life, a single seven-spot ladybird can gobble more than 5000 aphids! But farmers love them because they eat aphids and other plant-eating pests. These much loved critters are also known as lady beetles or ladybugs, and in many cultures they’re considered good luck. They come in many different colours and patterns, but the most familiar in the UK is the seven-spot ladybird, which has a shiny, red-and-black body. Most people like ladybirds because they are pretty, graceful and harmless to humans. There are about 5,000 different species of ladybirds in the world. Habitat: Grasslands, forests, cities, suburbs and along rivers. Lifespan (in wild): Around one year (two years maximum) Scientific name: Coccinellidae septempunctata (seven-pot ladybird) Calling all budding young naturalists! It’s time for the lowdown on one of our planet’s most beautiful bugs…check out our cool ladybird facts…
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