Ladybugs

Ladybugs are beetles. All beetles are insects. Ladybugs catch and eat other insects that eat plants. By eating those insects, ladybugs help save gardens and farms.

Not all ladybugs are red with black spots. Some are yellow. Some are orange. Some are black. Some do not have spots at all. All ladybugs have two antennae. They have wings.

Ladybugs live in many places around the world. They live in forests. They live in orchards. Some live in fields. Some live in gardens. They hibernate during the winter.

Ladybugs mostly eat aphids. Aphids are tiny green insects. Ladybugs find the aphids on plants. They can eat 60 aphids in one day. Ladybugs also eat mealybugs and spider mites.

Female ladybugs lay eggs on leaves. A larva hatches from each egg after approximately five days. Then the larva becomes a pupa. The pupa becomes an adult. Most ladybugs live for two to three years.