WHY ARE LADYBUGS BENEFICIAL?
Ladybugs are not bugs at all but rather beetles. We will call them lady beetles from now on. Their common names are ladybug, lady beetle and ladybird beetles. They received their name in Medieval Europe, where ladybugs moved in to remove insect pests from grapevines. They were dedicated to honor “Our Lady,” or “Bird of Our Lady.” (We have read it both ways.) From this the common name appeared. These aphid lions will eat aphids, mites, small insects and insect eggs. They also dine with relish on, mealybugs, scale, thrips and other soft-bodied insects. With these beneficials you get a double bang for the buck. The larva, as well as the adult, will eat the above mentioned pest insects. The convergent lady beetle will eat 100 aphids per day for every day they can find them. The larvae of the convergent will eat 100 aphids per hour because they are growing youngsters. DESCRIPTION OF LADY BEETLES There are more than 400 different species of lady beetles in North America alone. Some, such as
