Do you think I've gone completely crazy?
Well, yes, you are right. Now in our house, in addition to snails, there are also ladybug
It was found in the leaf litter that I brought from the forest. More precisely, there are a ton of ladybugs there) but I didn’t tell the children about this. Otherwise, they would have left this whole ton to live with us
In short, they found one and put it in a jar and released it into the street. Then we spent the whole evening staring at the jar, and as a result, this jar has been at home for 3 days, and the children are crying over it, they are used to it, and do not want to let go.
I had to dive into the Internet) and this is what I found!
Do you love ladybugs? The cold weather has set in, and you find a ladybug that has nothing to eat or drink because all the water is frozen? Do you want to help her? You can take her as a pet! Ladybugs love aphids, which are garden pests that can be found on plant leaves.
Part 1 of 3: Ladybug Detection
Find the ladybug.Look where ladybugs usually hide: under the leaves of plants infested with aphids (inspect roses and other flowers, or blooming fruit trees). Ladybugs also like to hide in crevices that can be found on buildings, such as window frames.
- Ladybugs love aphids, it is their main source of food.
- You can also use an insectarium.
- Not recommended for use glass jars, as they quickly overheat and can burn the ladybug, especially when placed in direct sun.
Part 3 of 3: Ladybug care
- You can also feed your ladybug raisins or lettuce.
Be careful when handling a ladybug.This must be done as follows:
- Place your finger next to the ladybug. It must touch the surface on which she is sitting.
- Wait for the ladybug to crawl or fly onto your finger.
- Now it's on your hand, but be careful!
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Well... We considered the possibility of letting go, but came to the conclusion that NO)))))))
That's why she lives like this now)
Today her diet includes honey) because... she was hungry... hmm... how long did she sit in the bag... A MONTH AND A HALF!!! So she immediately rushed to eat)
Do you see her?))))))))
Here she is) Eats
^_^ Mimimi, if I find another ladybug in the litter, I’ll throw it in with this one so it won’t be boring))))))))))
Ladybugs are among the most recognizable insects on the planet. They deserve this thanks to their bright colors. By drawing attention to their life activities, they showed that they are simply necessary for people, especially now, and here’s why.
Where does it live and what does it eat?
The climate-unpretentious creature has spread throughout the world, with the exception of permafrost zones. These insects were even imported into some states of America specifically for 3 years, and all because they are unsurpassed assistants in pest control. Despite his friendly appearance, cows are merciless predators. The main delicacy for them is aphids. During its not very long life (up to 2 years), each specimen eats more than 1000 of them, but the diet does not end there. Ladybugs also feed on spider mites, scale insects, whiteflies, scale insects, psyllids and their larvae, and sometimes even attack caterpillars and butterflies. This is the main value of these beetles. Fields under such protection do not require treatment with chemicals, which means the harvest will be environmentally friendly, which is very much in demand nowadays.
There are a few species of herbivorous ladybugs that feed only on certain plants, and some of them happily eat crops of potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and others vegetable crops. They meet on Far East and in Central Asia. But these are isolated cases, the vast majority bring only benefits.
It turns out that a ladybug can feel great even at home. To do this, it is enough to equip her own house and provide food. A plastic container or jar can serve as a shelter, the main thing is that there is good ventilation and humidified air (sometimes spray water inside). Place grass and branches at the bottom, prevent mold from appearing, to do this, constantly renew them. You can't hit straight Sun rays, this will lead to death. In winter, it usually hibernates and does not require special care.
What to feed
In captivity, when it is not possible to find “live” food, you can offer sweets:
fresh fruits and candied fruits
dried fruits
sugar
jam
honey
No need to leave a large number of food, but there should be water constantly; to do this, pour a few drops into a bottle cap or wet a cotton pad.
Although this insect can live in captivity, you still shouldn’t take away its right to freedom, it is designed to bring benefits to humans, so be it.
What to feed ladybugs at home?What to feed ladybugs at home?
09.03.2016
Ladybug - This is a type of arthropod, class insects. They can be found in every corner of both Europe and America. If you decide to leave a ladybug at home, then you must be prepared for the idea that these insects live only 1 year, which means that your communication with it will not be long.
The ladybug mostly lives on its own. However, in winter, insects gather in groups to sleep and then they can be counted from about 20 to 100 individuals. Thus, the cows accumulate in dense clusters somewhere in the bark of a tree or in the cracks of walls, and bask until the weather warms up.
Ladybugs, which we most often encounter on the street, are predatory insects. And they eat in a way that is typical for insects. Namely, they love to eat small insects, killing them in advance with their poison. Most of all, ladybugs love to eat aphids, spider mites, blackworms, whiteflies, and butterfly caterpillars. Also, their diet very often includes insect larvae and eggs, which you don’t even need to run after and spray your yellow poisonous juice. A ladybug can eat about 100 insects per day.
In the diet of these insects also includes flower nectar and pollen, mold fungusAnd. And to quench your thirst for a cowgnawing pieces of juicy green leaves.
If for a long time a ladybug has not been able to find food for itself, then it goes to vegetable gardens, potato plantations and eats eggs. Colorado potato beetle.
But most of all, cows are crazy about aphids. This is what ladybugs feed on during the cold season. And where, if not under fallen leaves, in the bark of trees or under stones, can you find this delicacy?
If you have adopted a ladybug, but have not been able to find any of the above to feed it, then you can simply soak a gauze or cotton wool in sweet water and put it in a jar with your “pet”.
And when you realize that you are already tired of the cow, do not rush to throw it away or crush it. Just let her out into the garden or garden, whatever works for you good service. Ladybugs with great pleasure will take care of pests in your area.
Our beneficial insects , underrated allies in pest control. And although they may, at first glance, seem very small, delicate and defenseless, in a short period of time they can destroy a surprising number of pests.
One of the most important beneficial insects in our country is a beetle called - ladybug(lat. Coccinellidae).
This small, brightly colored predatory beetle is the most numerous in our country and, under favorable conditions, can free many plants from annoying insects. Most pests eat ladybug larvae , before turning into an adult, can absorb from 400 to 3 thousand aphids. Adult ladybugs have a slightly smaller appetite; they eat more than 200 different insects every day.
The main food is, but ladybugs are not particularly picky and willingly take the opportunity to profit from psyllids, hymenopteran sawflies and horntails, ticks, scale insects and scale insects, or dipteran larvae. Such a serious ally cannot be ignored by us, so it is worth taking a closer look at him in order to create for him Better conditions for life, in our garden.
Types of ladybugs
ladybug each is associated with a small insect with a bright red shell, with several black dots. This is only one of his many images, since there are more than 5 thousand varieties of ladybugs in the world, of which we have more than seventy.
The most common are, of course, Point-to-point (lat. Adalia bipunctata) And Seven-point (lat. Coccinella septempunctata), with a red shell typical for us, but besides them there are also insects with an orange-red shell and black dots - Ten-point, (lat. Adalia decempunctata), red shell and black dots, with a yellow rim around - Ocellated ladybird (lat. Anatis ocellata), black shell and yellow or red dots - Fourteen-spotted ladybird (lat. Coccinula quatuordecimpustulata), yellow or cream shell and black dots - Twenty-two point cow , or psyllobora , orange shell and cream dots - Calvia tenspotted (lat. Calvia decemguttata).
Like adults, the larvae also differ from each other, and their appearance is not at all similar to either of the parents. Ladybug larvae small, but at close range they look very scary, resembling small crocodiles or miniature monsters. In general, pupae can easily be confused with the Colorado potato beetle. In general, the body of the larvae is sectional, gray-black with yellow or orange spots, but there are species that have yellow larvae with black speckles.
Due to their unusual appearance, the offspring of ladybugs can often be mistaken for pests and destroyed. Therefore, before we decide to radical measures, you should watch for insects.
Interestingly, not all ladybugs known to us are predators, because some (eg. TO twenty-two-point line),
can feed on fungi powdery mildew), and even plants (one of the few pests belonging to ladybugs - Alfalfa twenty-four-spot ladybird I (lat. Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata).Life cycle of ladybug development
The life cycle of a ladybug is quite complex. The adult female, after fertilization, lays oblong, yellow-orange eggs. Attaching them to different parts plants are usually closer to the food source, e.g. . One female throughout short life(about 1-1.5 years) can lay more than 1000 eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae, which then develop into pupae, and then into an adult ladybug (about 40-60 days pass from the moment the eggs are laid to the appearance of a mature insect in our climate).
In autumn, adult insects look for secluded and warm places where they can safely overwinter. As a rule, they choose tree bark, stones, compost piles, heaps of leaves or needles, but sometimes they can also hide in window cracks or window sills, but in such shelter they rarely manage to wait until spring, because, as a rule, they dry out.
Ladybug on the site.
The insect is independent and it is difficult to predict where it will decide to settle, so if we want to have it in our garden, we should try a little. First of all, you should not use any chemicals plant protection or choose ones that are not harmful to ladybugs. In addition, it is worth setting aside a small space in the garden, in which we will not interfere (we stop mowing the grass, raking the leaves).
Thus, we create a favorable environment not only for ladybugs, but also for many beneficial insects, such as lacewings, spiders and ants, which in such a place can unhinderedly reproduce, develop and overwinter. If such a wild nook spoils the appearance of the garden, you can cover it with a decorative wooden fence or an original hedge.
What’s remarkable is that these inconspicuous insects also have their own secret weapon to protect themselves from enemies. Sensing danger, they secrete a yellow, unpleasant-smelling substance that should scare off the enemy.
The reputation of our allies, in last years was a little “tainted” because of one of her relatives Harmonia axyridis, popularly - “ And the Ziat ladybug" It is more aggressive and reproduces faster than our “domestic” ones, therefore it poses a greater threat to them. It happens that the Asian ladybug bites people, causing an unpleasant burning sensation at the site of the bite, and sometimes allergies. And although this species is truly annoying and alien to us, this should not affect the reputation of the whole genus, these beautiful and useful insects.
If you have something to add, please be sure to leave a comment.
Photo: Pavel Timofeev/Rusmediabank.ru
Probably, the Ladybug is one of those insects that is well known to almost everyone. In childhood, a red bug with spots was placed on the palm and the sentence was said: “Ladybug, fly to the sky and bring bread to the children.”
The bug crawled onto the tip of the finger and, spreading its wings, took off.
After 6-7 days, larvae appear from the eggs - worms painted dark gray with a yellow or red pattern. After a while, the larvae begin to pupate and turn yellow.
After one or two weeks, a new bug emerges from the pupa, soft and pale in color. He sits motionless and waits. Dots begin to appear on the elytra, and the elytra themselves harden. The bugs acquire their final color in about 3 days.
For some time, the elytra of a young beetle remain lighter than the elytra of adult insects.
The young bug begins to search for food. The more aphids and other food there are, the more actively the ladybugs reproduce.
The ladybug is a predatory insect and hunts.
The ladybug moves slowly, and why should it rush if it hunts sedentary insects that live in colonies and feed on plant juices?
Beetles are designed in such a way that, despite having eyes, they do not see or smell prey. In order to eat it, ladybugs must stumble upon it and feel it with their palps.
The ladybug moves in a straight line - along a stem or leaf - until it encounters prey. Having eaten it, she searches for other insects nearby, for which she crawls from side to side, writing zigzags.
Interestingly, aphids are often protected by harvester ants, which “milk” the aphids and therefore protect them.
But, nevertheless, one ladybug eats at least a hundred insects a day. Plus it also destroys small caterpillars, their eggs and pupae of insect pests.
To reach aphids living on the roots of plants, ladybugs burrow into the ground.
It’s a pity that ladybugs don’t like Colorado potato beetle eggs and only eat them if they don’t find anything more tasty.
Ladybugs eat mold fungi, feast on plant pollen and drink. In drought and heat, they can gnaw out small pieces green leaves to quench thirst.
Ladybugs are just like migratory birds, gather in large flocks and in August-September fly to warm countries for the winter, and return home in the spring.
Ladybugs fly at a very high altitude. They can't fly in the rain or strong wind, so they lower themselves to the ground and wait for flying weather. They say that during such forced stops, the ground is literally covered with swarming red dots of hundreds of thousands of ladybugs.
Unfortunately, many ladybugs are killed by flights over water. Exhausted bugs fall into the water and the waves carry them to the shore, where they form a wide red stripe at the water's edge. Few insects manage to get out, dry out in the wind and continue their difficult journey. Most of the insects die.
Ladybugs most often overwinter high in the mountains, hiding in cracks, crevices, under accumulations of dry leaves, under bark, under stones, moss, forming clusters consisting of 35 - 45 insects.
Such accumulations allow ladybugs to preserve more high temperature and survive the winter safely. Ladybugs do not hibernate on the plains.
It is interesting that ladybugs always hibernate in the same place. Scientists do not yet know how young individuals find their way to wintering, because ladybugs do not live long and subsequent generations go to winter each time.
Until spring, the bugs are in a state of torpor, and when the sun warms up, they scatter in different directions.
When ladybugs return from wintering, the first thing they do is eat their food, then they begin to lay eggs.
Interestingly, ladybird larvae are no less voracious than adult insects and in just 20 days of growing up they eat more than 600 aphids. At the same time, the larvae continue to look for food in places where adult insects despair of finding it.
Against other enemies, the ladybug uses a yellowish-orange liquid with a bitter taste and pungent odor, which it squeezes out from the joints of its legs. This fluid is called hemolymph and is poisonous to most insects, birds and animals. Having grabbed the beetle, the predator, as a rule, lets it go and no longer hunts the ladybug.
The bright color of the ladybug warns of the danger of those who want to eat it.
Sometimes the ladybug resorts to cunning and, tucking its paws and antennae, pretends to be dead.
The ladybug must be carefully protected by humans.
Farmers in California were the first to use ladybugs in pest control at the beginning of the last century. To do this, workers explored mountain forests at the end of autumn, marked on the map the places where ladybugs gathered for the winter, and calculated the approximate number of beetles.
And in winter, unique harvesters went to these places, who collected ladybugs in ordinary bags, packed them in boxes and sent them to customers. In the spring, ladybugs were released into gardens and fields.
But, alas, in 1936 they began to use chemicals to control pests.
However, if desired, ladybugs can be successfully used in your dacha or in your garden.
This environmentally friendly method of pest control will not cause any harm, only benefit.
Little defenders in a red-orange robe with black dots will save fruit and other trees from aphids.
One seven-spotted ladybug destroys up to 150 aphids per day, and over a lifetime, more than 4 thousand adult aphids. More small species Ladybugs are destroyed by more than 60 aphids per day.
So our ancestors were right, the ladybug is an insect blessed by heaven and sent to people as a great gift.
Ladybug is an insect - a predator.You can always find them not only in the village, but also in city parks and gardens.
Ladybug is completely safe for humans. You can sit her on your hand, and she herself will happily warm herself in your palm. According to ancient beliefs, the cow, scientifically called coccinellida, is directly connected with God, it lives in heaven and only occasionally descends to earth. At the same time, she plays the role of a real messenger; you can find out from her what the weather will be like, whether the harvest will be successful, etc.
They say that she was the wife of the thunder god and, as a result of a conflict with her husband, was turned into an insect along with her children, who became the days of the week and at the same time black dots on her scarlet outfit. The French now call it the animal of God, the sheep of God - the Germans, the beetle of Our Lady - the British. Yes, and with us she is Ladybug.
One more thing, less famous name- Moses' cow (and again religious motives!). Moreover, the divinity of this small beetle is emphasized in other cultures: in Germany it is called Marienkaefer (St. Virgin Mary's beetle), in England - Ladybird (Lady Bird, the Virgin's bird), in Argentina - St. Anthony's Cow.
Despite the idyllic name, this insect is a predator, which applies to all ladybugs middle zone. The menu of adult cows is based on sedentary mass insects that are easy to catch: aphids, scale insects, whiteflies and spider mites of the most various types. This preference is not accidental, because cows are very voracious and can eat up to 100-150 mites or aphids daily. Ladybird larvae feed exclusively on aphids, eating up to 60 (if adults) or 300 aphid larvae daily. Over the entire period of development of a ladybug, the number of aphids eaten by it is in the thousands.
Long, elongated ladybug larvae, a bit like small leeches, are often found in aphid accumulations, not far from the “generous table”... Like adult relatives, they are inedible for birds, so they behave rather carelessly. Their invulnerability is indicated by bright orange or red spots on the discreet main background of the larva.
Ladybugs are very fertile, and the number of offspring is directly related to the amount of potential food. If usually one female lays 200-400 eggs, then in “feeding” years the number of eggs can reach 1500-1700!
Several ladybugs with their offspring may well clear a small area of aphids. garden plot. In addition, in the middle of summer, when food becomes scarcer, ladybugs may well diversify their “menu” with small caterpillars, herbivorous bugs and larvae of small beetles, which is also valuable for gardeners.
Among the exploits of ladybugs, one can recall their rescue of citrus plantations around the world that were dying from the invasion of the Australian grooved bug; among the saved plantations were citrus plantations of the then Soviet Caucasus. In addition, in the same Transcaucasia, the lindor cow, imported from Australia, keeps scale insects in check, damaging mulberry trees. One species of ladybug protects alfalfa fields from pests. It should also be mentioned that these insects are migratory, like birds, and are able to migrate to places that most need their presence. For the winter, they take refuge under stones or in other cozy places, often forming large clusters.
Due to their unpretentiousness, high fertility, tolerance to the “society” of their own kind and food specialization, which is very beneficial for people, ladybugs have become quite a popular object for biological protection in agriculture. It is possible that someday they will be bred in the same numbers as bees and silkworms are now bred.
The origin of the name "lady cow" is most likely related to biological feature bug: it can give milk, and not ordinary milk, but red milk! In case of danger, such liquid is released from the pores on the bends of the limbs.
The milk tastes extremely unpleasant (and in large doses it can even be fatal!) and scares away predators who see the cow as their potential lunch. The same task is performed by the bright coloring, indicating the inedibility of the winged ladybug. The bug’s defensive “techniques” are very effective: even tarantula spiders do not feed on it!
There is still no consensus on the origin of the name ladybug. But the signs and legends associated with these winged bugs are still alive today. Stepping on or harming a cow is a great sin. So, maybe there really is something divine in her?
What do ladybugs eat? Most are predators and eat other insects, many of which are considered serious plant pests. Ladybug is often called best friend gardener They eat aphids, thereby controlling the number of insect pests in the garden and replacing the use of chemical pesticides. Ladybug larvae also feed on aphids. They also eat other insects that have soft bodies - mites, whiteflies, scale insects and others.
Ladybug: life cycle
There are more than 4,000 species of these interesting representatives of the insect world (Latin name: Coccinellidea) in the world. What do ladybugs eat? Adults and larvae feed on soft-bodied pests, plant mites and egg pests. What they love most is aphids! One individual usually eats more than 5,000 aphids in its life. What is their life cycle? The female lays her eggs (5-20 pieces) on the leaves or stems of plants. After about a week, the eggs hatch into larvae that look like tiny crocodiles. Before becoming a pupa, the larva consumes 350 to 400 aphids.
The larvae go through several stages of maturation. After about a month, the larvae pupate, and a week later young beetles appear. At this stage, they are completely different from the adults that people used to call ladybugs. Distinctive Features are spots and bright color, which are needed in order to make them less attractive to any predators.
- Average life expectancy in wildlife averages 2-3 years.
- The length of the insect usually reaches 7-10 millimeters.
- To clean its head and antennae, the ladybug uses its front legs.
- As the individual grows, the spots on the flaps become lighter.
- The wing flapping speed is approximately 85 times per second.
- Breathing occurs through openings on the sides of the body.
- A ladybug can hide its head in its body under certain conditions.
- The larvae grow very quickly and change their appearance 3 times.
- In some countries they are considered to bring good luck.
- When ladybugs feel threatened, they begin to secrete a special yellowish liquid that smells unpleasant and is toxic to other insects. This is their kind of defense mechanism. In some cases, they may even pretend to be dead.
- They are welcome guests in any garden, as they feed on garden and garden pests.
- Ladybugs will also live indoors.
What does a ladybug look like?
Some representatives have red elytra with black dots; in nature, orange, black with red dots, and completely brown or black are also found. The body structure includes the head, thorax and abdomen. There are a pair of antennae, a pair of compound eyes on the head, and six segmented legs that attach to the thorax. Under the thick, hard elytra there is an additional pair of thin wings. Different species have different feeding habits. What do ladybugs eat? In nature there are predatory and herbivorous species. Vegetarians in the ladybird family feed on mushrooms and leaves. Some eat insects that eat plants (aphids, midges).
Defenders of crops and ornamental gardens
The ladybug is a member of a family that includes thousands of species of insects. When people hear the words "ladybug", they think of bright red beetles with black spots, although these beneficial insects can be different colors, both with and without spots. What do ladybugs eat? They live in gardens all over the world and are often welcome visitors as they eat agricultural pests and other small insects.
Males and females of many species are very similar, only biologists can tell them apart. What do ladybugs eat? Typically, after mating in the spring, they produce large clutches of eggs, which are located next to a colony of aphids and other small insects. When the larvae hatch, they can feed on insects until they are large enough to fly and find food on their own.
Are there poisonous ladybugs?
Ladybugs are not poisonous to humans. However, they may be toxic to some animals because they have bad smell, which repels some predators. A certain color also serves as a deterrent. In nature red and orange colors are a warning of potential danger and show other animals that they should look for someone else for their dinner or lunch.
In general, ladybugs do not cause significant damage, but in people sensitive to foreign odors they can cause allergic reaction. What do ladybugs eat at home? The good news is that they don't eat anything in winter, they are indifferent to building materials, wood and clothing, and also do not lay eggs inside the house.
Where do ladybugs spend the winter?
Ladybugs can be found on plants that serve as food for aphids. These can be plants such as mustard, buckwheat, coriander, clover, dandelion and others. For wintering, warmer and secluded corners, cracks and tree bark are chosen; they can huddle in lowlands or at high altitudes, under fallen leaves, in crevices, small cracks in houses, stones, mainly on sunny side, and so on. In winter, ladybugs avoid the cold air by hiding under a layer of fallen leaves in the forest. Surprisingly, some species can survive at temperatures as low as minus 20°C.
As soon as ladybugs enter the house, they begin to secrete special pheromones that attract other relatives. Pheromones are used as a means of communication during mating and hibernation. Such peculiar “spirits” in insects are very powerful; they can be detected at a distance of up to 500 meters from the place where they are used. This helps insects find each other and allows future generations to learn about good location for wintering. Ladybugs gather in groups when they hibernate.
The question may arise: what do ladybugs eat at home? What is known is that they do not eat fabric, plants, paper or any other household items. During hibernation, they live off their own accumulated reserves. They also prefer humidity, but the house is usually not particularly humid in winter, and they use every opportunity to get water for themselves, since otherwise dehydration may occur. Thus, answering the question of what ladybugs eat in winter, we can answer that they do nothing, or rather, they use their accumulated energy reserves. With the onset of spring, the surviving cows, as a rule, leave their homes.
Everyone knows the ladybug. Even in ancient times, people noticed that where this bright red beetle with large spots lives, the harvest is always good. This is not surprising, because the ladybug is the “orderly” of the garden, eating pests.
Description
These beetles from the order Coleoptera are found in almost all climatic zones peace. There are almost 4,000 species on the planet; 221 species of these insects live in our country alone.
Ladybugs vary in size, body shape, elytra color and number of spots. Thus, shades can vary from yellow and orange to poisonous red. These bright colors protect insects from birds of prey and other insects.
Contrary to popular belief, the number of dots on the wings does not depend on the age of the beetle, but only on the species.
The lifespan of a ladybug is 1 – 2 years. During this time, the insect goes through 4 stages:
- egg;
- larva;
- chrysalis;
- and imago - an adult insect.
During the spring and summer, the ladybug eats, accumulating reserves for wintering. With the onset of cold weather, it hibernates, and in the spring, those individuals that were able to survive the winter lay 1–2 dozen eggs and die before the hatching of a new generation.
The scientific name of the ladybug sounds like “Coccinellidae”, or “Coccinellidae”, but much more often this useful insect for the gardener is called differently: “St. Mary’s beetle”, “St. Anthony’s beetle”, “Sun”. And in Tajikistan they respectfully call him “Redbeard Grandfather.” These names best show how much gardeners value this colorful bug.
What does a ladybug eat on the street?
In the wild, the basis of the diet of almost all Coccinellid species is garden aphids. This is what turns bright spotted insects into real saviors of greenhouses and garden farms. Ladybugs eat aphids that attack plants, preventing these pests from destroying crops.
They also eat spider mites and other insects that do not have a hard shell:
- scale insects;
- psyllids;
- scale insects;
- and others.
In regions where, for some reason, the ladybug population has been destroyed, pests can destroy almost the entire harvest of individual crops - as, for example, happened in countries where the Australian insect pest was introduced. Many gardeners are concerned about what ladybugs eat, besides aphids and mites.
There is a common myth that the ladybug larvae eats the leaves of beans, peas and other legumes. In fact, this is not entirely true: most species of these beetles are carnivorous insects and eat exclusively live food.
Almost all representatives that feed on plants (the so-called phytophages) live in the countries of Southeast Asia and Latin America. In Russia, there are only three ladybugs that can be classified as garden pests:
- the alfalfa ladybug, common in southern Russia and feeding on the leaves of sugar beets and alfalfa;
- 28-spotted coccinellid, which often destroys plantings of tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables in the Far East;
- and the pointless species of these insects, found in the central part of Russia - its food, along with aphids, can be the leaves of clover, alfalfa, sweet clover and some other plants.
The food of an adult insect is almost no different from what a ladybug larva eats. The difference lies in the amount of food. So, in 3 weeks, each larva eats from 7 to 10 thousand aphids and other insects. Herbivorous species during this period also absorb food several times more than an adult ladybug.
What does a ladybug eat at home?
It happens that due to the sudden onset of cold weather, “garden orderlies” do not have time to find shelter for hibernation. Their chances of surviving until spring in such situations are very small; The exception is when beetles are picked up by people. They can easily survive in the house, and caring for them is quite simple.
The list of what ladybugs eat at home is small. Finding aphids or spider mites in winter is unrealistic, so the choice of food for insects remains small:
- sweetened water;
- honey diluted in water;
- Phytophagous cows can also be given raisins, bean leaves, cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetable crops.
However, they will only need food for the first few days. Perfect option– feed the beetles and place them in a cool place, for example, between window frames, where they can sleep peacefully until warm weather arrives.
Ladybugs are a completely harmless insect for humans, but for Agriculture it really is your best friend. This controller of the population of garden pests is necessary for the existence of any ecosystem. Even those species that may threaten vegetable plants are necessary in nature, and it is better not to destroy them unnecessarily.
Ladybug is an insect known to every inhabitant of planet Earth. Even in ancient times, people noted that in the habitats of these bright red beetles, good harvest. And this is no wonder, it is not for nothing that ladybugs are called orderlies; the basis of their diet is garden pests, by eating which these insects save plantings of cultivated plants from destruction.
Ladybugs belong to the order Coleoptera and inhabit almost all climatic zones peace. Today, about four thousand species of these insects are known, two hundred and twenty-two of which live in Russia.
What does a ladybug look like?
The species of these insects differ from each other in color, body shape, size and number of spots. In nature, there are both yellow or orange ladybugs and individuals of bright, saturated red flowers. They need this color for protection against natural enemies:
- Spiders.
- Frogs.
- Other predatory insects.
Birds and other animals do not feed on ladybugs and therefore pose no danger to them. One more effective means, which nature has awarded these wonderful creatures, is an odorous yellow-orange liquid. It is secreted from the joints of the insect's legs.
The most common species on planet Earth are: memorable colors:
The body of ladybugs consists of a round abdomen, a head with two antennae and a chest. They have compound vision, so their eyes have a wide field of view, are sensitive to ultraviolet rays, and see colors. Three pairs of segmented legs are attached to the thorax of this insect. Additional thin wings are hidden under the upper, thick and hard, brightly colored shell.
Many people believe that the number of dots on the back of a ladybug indicates the number of years lived, but this is not true. These bright bugs live a maximum of one to two years. During this time, they overcome four life stages:
- Egg. Females lay five to twenty eggs on leaves or blades of grass.
- Larvae. A week after laying, larvae emerge from the eggs. At this stage, the insect feeds intensively and manages to consume up to four hundred aphids before becoming a pupa. This is several times more than what an adult beetle requires.
- Doll. Pupation occurs one month after hatching.
- Young beetle. The larvae turn into beetles a week after pupation. Juveniles bear little resemblance to adults. They have an even brighter color that scares away predators.
- Adult beetle.
Throughout the spring and summer, the ladybug fattens itself to prepare for the winter. With the arrival of cold weather, the bugs hibernate, but everyone manages to survive the frost. The survivors lay eggs and then die by the time the new generation emerges.
Scientifically, these insects are called Coccinellidae, but such a definition can only be heard among scientists.
Gardeners have given many names to this creature useful for their activities:
These names make it clear how highly valued and respected the ladybug is in the gardening industry.
Different types of ladybugs have different eating preferences. Among these insects there are both carnivorous and vegetarian varieties. Herbivorous beetles will not refuse to feast on plant food: mushrooms and leaves. But meat-eaters hunt various garden pests that feed on various plants.
In the natural environment, the basis of the diet of almost all varieties of ladybugs is garden aphids. Since aphids are capable of destroying almost all plantings by eating such a pest, coccinellids save farmers and summer residents from loss of crops.
Besides aphids, these red bugs eat various insects, which do not have hard skin or shells.
- Shield.
- Psyllids.
- Spider mites.
- Scaleworms.
In some regions where ladybugs have disappeared for unknown reasons, pests have the ability to destroy almost the entire harvest of certain crops. This, for example, happened in countries where the Australian pest, the scale insect, was completely accidentally introduced.
Today there is a fairly common myth that ladybird larvae eat such cultivated plants like beans, peas and others legume plantings. But in fact, most species of coccinellids are predators, so they prefer live food, and leaves are of no interest to them.
Most gardeners wonder what ladybugs eat, besides insects.
Almost all varieties of ladybugs that prefer plant foods live in Latin America and the south of East Asia. In Russia there are only three varieties of these bugs that can be considered garden pests:
- Pointless coccinellid distributed in the central part of Russia. In addition to aphids, the diet of this species includes alfalfa, clover, sweet clover and similar plants.
- Alfalfa bugs, eat sugar beet and alfalfa plantings in the southern part of Russia.
- Twenty eight point ladybugs, live in the Far East and feed on the leaves of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables.
Diet adult does not differ from the diet of insect larvae. The only thing that can be noted is that they require different quantities food. In three weeks, one larva can eat from seven to ten thousand aphids and other small insects. Phytophagous (vegetarian) species at this stage of life also absorb several times more plant food than adult ladybirds.
What to feed ladybugs at home
Ladybugs are often found on plants that aphids like to eat. These can be coriander, mustard, buckwheat, clover and dandelions. To wait out the winter, bugs look for secluded and warm places. Cracks in the bark of trees and in the walls of houses, fallen leaves, stones, and so on are excellent for these purposes. The main thing for ladybugs is to find a shelter where the cold wind will not penetrate. Some species are highly frost-resistant and can survive even at temperatures twenty degrees below zero.
When the bugs are found appropriate place In order to wait out the winter, they begin to secrete special substances - pheromones. These so-called “spirits” have a very pungent and strong odor, which other individuals can smell at a distance of up to five hundred meters. In this way, ladybugs communicate with each other, calling on their relatives to share nice house for wintering. Before hibernating, these insects gather in large groups.
Sometimes cold weather comes unexpectedly and the “garden helpers” simply do not have time to prepare for the winter and find shelter for themselves. In such cases, they lose the opportunity to survive until spring and die due to frost and low temperatures. The only one who can help ladybugs survive in such a situation is man. They are quite capable of surviving the winter at home, and you will hardly have to look after them.
The list of products that you can feed ladybugs at home is negligible. Agree, it is not possible to find spider mites or aphids in winter. Therefore, the choice of food for red bugs is quite small:
- Honey diluted with water.
- Sugar-sweetened water.
- Coccinellid - a vegetarian will not refuse raisins, cucumber leaves, tomatoes, legumes and other vegetables.
Ladybugs will only need feeding for a few days. Ideally, you should feed the bugs and place them in a cool place, such as on a windowsill or between window frames. There they will quickly hibernate and live quietly until warmer weather arrives.
Are there poisonous ladybugs?
Ladybugs are absolutely harmless to humans, but can have a toxic effect on other insects or animals in order to repel and protect against natural enemies.
However, allergy sufferers and people who are highly susceptible to foreign odors do not always respond well to the pheromones of garden attendants.