Beneficial Insects: Ladybugs

Ladybug Eating an Aphid

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3577152765_e15c334b55.jpg

Ladybugs
aka Ladybirds (if you are in most English speaking areas of the world other than the U.S.),
aka Lady Beetles
aka Ladybird Beetles

Latin Name: Coccinellidea species  (Over 5,000 species in the world.  Over 450 in North America)

Why are they beneficial?
Adults and larvae feed on soft-bodied pests, mites, and pest eggs.
They LOVE aphids!
A larvae will eat about 400 aphid prior to pupating.
An Adult can consume over 5,000 aphids in it lifetime.

What is their life cycle?
The female will lay her eggs in a cluster on a plant leaf or stem.
In about a week, the eggs hatch into larvae (they look like little alligators).
The larvae go through four stages (instars) as they mature and grow.
In about a month, the larvae pupate (go into a cocoon-like stage).
In another week, the adults emerge.

What do they look like?
This is important.  Most people only know what the adult looks like.  Here is what to look for in all stages of the life cycle.

Ladybug Laying Eggs

http://media-3.web.britannica.com/eb-media/90/91390-050-6E541C9B.jpg

Ladybug Eggs on a Leaf

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaKUOK9yPi0/TZXh2jMDqnI/AAAAAAAABXg/V7InYQLOsUo/s1600/ladybug+eggs.jpg

Ladybug Eggs and Head of a Match (for size)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marienk%C3%A4ferEier_03.JPG

Newly Hatched Ladybug Larvae

http://www.botos.com/weekly/imgp9396a_800.jpg

Ladybug Larvae

Note that every species is very similar, but may have slightly different patterns and colors to this one.

http://www.californiagardens.com/images/Asian-Ladybug-Larvae.jpg

Ladybug Pupa

Note that each species has slightly different colors and spot patterns, but they are all basically the same shape.

http://jonskifarms.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/pupate-colorchange.jpg

Adult Ladybug

http://www.whatdotheyeat.info/wp-content/uploads/what-do-ladybugs-eat.jpg

Adult Ladybug

http://www.kewlwallpapers.com/bulkupload/83/Animals/Nine-Spotted%20Ladybug.jpg

Adult Ladybug

Note that colors and spots may be different with different species, but size and shape are about the same.

http://www.hmrprint.com/helensphotos/images/KODAK_05_06/2005_3/YELLOW_LadyBUG2.jpg

This is a great series of images of the life cycle of a Ladybug.

http://www.ijdesign.com/blog/ladybug-larvae.htm

What do they need?
Prey: aphids, mites, soft-bodied insects, and insect eggs
Food: Ladybugs also need nectar and pollen from flowers that have shallow clusters or are umbrella shaped (basket of gold, buckwheat, butterfly weed, carpet bugleweed, chamomile, chervil, chives, clover, cornflower, cosmos, coreopsis, cinquefoil, coriander, dandelion, dill, fennel, four-wing saltbush, golden marguerite, marigold, mustard, parsley, queen anne's lace, scented geraniums, spike speedwell, sunflowers, tansy, vetch, wild carrot, yarrow).
Ladybugs need places to overwinter - loose mulch, leaf litter, under rocks, etc.

NOTE:  The "Asian Lady Beetle", that one that seems to come in swarms inside your house in the fall, is still a beneficial insect for your garden, but it can give a little bite (not poisonous), and can stain skin and other surfaces with its yellowish, foul smelling defense secretion.  Just try to relocate them to your garden.

Check out these other pages on beneficial insects in your garden!
Bees
Lacewings
Ladybugs
Praying Mantis
Trichogramma Wasps