Ladybug Vs Ladybird

Many people associate the color-spotted ladybug with fairy tales, children’s books and gardening. But the ladybug — or, more accurately, lady beetle — is a real creature with an important role to play in our natural world. This fascinating insect is an important crop pollinator and, when introduced into gardens, will help eliminate some plant pests. It is also an excellent educational tool for demonstrating evolution, habitat destruction and the importance of biodiversity to young students.

While it is commonly believed that the spotted ladybug, Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, is the only true species of lady beetle, this is not true. The word “ladybug” is used to refer to the entire family of beetles within the superfamily Coccinellidae (“handsome fungus beetles”).

The 105 species currently reported in Florida are all members of the genus Coccellina, and they include both native and adventive (having arrived from elsewhere and established feral populations) species. Most eat phytophagous insects, including aphids, which are damaging to crops, and one ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids in a day. This helps farmers and gardeners control the use of chemical insecticides, which can harm plants and pollute water sources.

To be a member of the genus Coccellina, a beetle must have a special type of symbiotic bacteria, which is secreted from joints in their legs. The bacterium helps the beetle withstand harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures and droughts. Some studies suggest that these symbiotic bacteria can also influence prey-predator relationships. For example, it has been found that aphids whose bacterial endosymbionts have evolved to be heat-tolerant experience more favorable interactions with ladybug predators than do aphids whose symbiotic bacteria are not as robust.

The spots on the wing covers (elytra) of most species of ladybugs are an attractive warning to predators that the beetles have a bad taste and are dangerous to eat. They can even emit a fluid from their joints that makes the taste of a predator’s saliva more bitter.

Although the spotted ladybug is a desirable garden visitor, some species are invasive and can cause significant damage. For instance, the invasive Harlequin ladybug (Hypogyna juglandis) can occur in large numbers and negatively impact pristine grasslands and agricultural crops. This is due to its voracious appetite, high reproductive rate and ability to tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions. It has also been shown that it can lethally infect native coccinellid ladybirds with a parasitic fungus.

It is essential to understand the difference between the native and invasive ladybugs, and to learn how to identify the different genus members. While the seven-spotted ladybug has three spots on each side of its body, other species have more or less than this number and different color combinations on their elytra. Regardless of the number of spots, all ladybugs have six short legs and a dome-shaped body with three segments: the head, thorax and abdomen. The females also have a hump on their back that is used to carry eggs.