What do Ladybirds look like?
You might think of ladybirds or lady beetles as being a red or orange dome with black spots, but they can be many different colours. Some are all one colour, some are striped and some are even hairy! There are about 6000 species of ladybird in the world, with around 500 species in Australia. They can range in size from 1 – 10mm.
Where are Ladybirds found?
Ladybirds are very common in gardens all around Australia. You may have seen them gathering together for a feast of aphids on your rose bushes, flying across your garden to check out your herbs or you may have even tried to get them to land on your hand for luck.
Fast facts:
- The name ladybird originated in Australia. It was changed to Lady bug in America where it was introduced into California to help control pests in citrus orchids.
- Despite being one of the most loved insects in the backyard they are one of its most voracious predators. Aphids are one of their favourite meals. Adults with ladybirds can eat 20-25 aphids a day while their larvae have been known to consume over 200 aphids a day!
Ladybirds – the full story
Ladybirds are great to have as buddies in your backyard. In many cultures they are considered so lucky that killing one will bring sadness and misfortune.
There are about 6000 species of ladybird in the world, with around 500 species in Australia. You might know ladybirds as ladybugs or ladybeetles, but whatever name you use they are the fantastic at keeping your garden healthy.
You might think of ladybirds as being red or orange with black spots, but they can be many different colours – some are all one colour, some are striped and some are even hairy!
Most ladybird species eat insects, aphids, mites, beetle larvae, pollen, sap and nectar. They have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult beetle. The adult beetle can fly long distances to find new food sources or mating partners.
Ladybirds are very common in gardens all around Australia. You may have seen them gathering together for a feast of aphids on your rose bushes, flying across your garden to check out your herbs or you may have even tried to get them to land on your hand for luck.
Ladybirds love to eat aphids, mites and scale insects that destroy a lot of common garden plants like roses, so they are great to have in your backyard.
Planting herbs like coriander, fennel and dill will help to attract ladybirds.
Ladybirds also like to live in well-watered gardens because they need to drink frequently. Some also enjoy the occasional treat of pollen or nectar.
It isn’t just adult ladybirds that are helpful. Ladybird larvae also grow strong by eating aphids, mites and scale insects. They look quite different to adult ladybirds, so keep an eye on any clumps of eggs or larvae you find near groups of ladybirds; you might see them grow up into beautiful ladybirds too.
Be a Backyard Buddy
Some ladybirds are the brightly coloured and spotty types you might have seen in children’s books or cartoons, but there are many different types of ladybirds.
If you think you have found a ladybird in your garden, you can identify it at the CSIRO’s Ladybirds of Australia website.
Ladybirds love:
- Aphids, scale insects or mites.
- Garden herbs like coriander, fennel and dill.
- Pollen or nectar from locally native plants.
But they don’t like:
- Insecticides. Any insecticides, even low toxic or environmentally friendly ones, are harmful to ladybirds and they destroy the ladybirds’ food sources. That means new ladybirds won’t have any reason to come to your garden.
- Being caught out in cold weather.
- Going without water or visiting very dry gardens.
Be a Buddy to Ladybirds
Try to:
- Build a simple ladybird house in your garden so the ladybirds have somewhere warm and safe to shelter or lay eggs.
- Make your backyard a ladybird paradise. Grow their favourite herbs near any plants that are being eaten by aphids, mites or scale insects. (A pot of coriander or dill is perfect) You can even give ladybirds an occasional tasty treat by mixing some honey with water and a little brewers yeast and spreading it around the garden.
Avoid:
- Using any insecticides or chemicals in your garden.
- Killing ladybirds, their larvae or their eggs.
- Watering your garden during the hottest part of the day. This means all of the water will have evaporated before the ladybirds have had enough to drink.
Don’t be surprised if Ladybirds:
- Hang out together in big groups. Ladybirds keep warm by huddling together when the weather gets cold.
- Squirt out yellow goo. This is called “reflex blood”. It is part of the ladybird’s natural defence system because it is smelly and toxic for many of the ladybird’s potential predators. Don’t worry if you see them squirting reflex blood; it doesn’t harm the ladybird or you.
- Has faded spots. As a ladybird gets older its spots fade.
A few more Ladybirds facts
- A female ladybird can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.
- Ladybirds beat their wings up to 85 times per second when they fly.
- Ladybirds breathe through openings in the sides of their bodies.
