FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Ladybirds are popularly known as ladybugs, and we all must have seen this beautiful tiny insect at least once in our lives. They are widely spread all across the globe. These insects get most of the attention due to their colorful bodies. A few years ago the ladybug population was ample, and finding these ladybugs was really easy, but now this insect species is seen a lot less as their population has declined over the years. Ladybird insects have a fascinating story to tell and in this article, we will discuss all that is relevant about these little insects.
As per experts, their markings act as a warning to predators and save these beautiful creatures from being preyed upon. They can come in all sorts of colors and markings such as: orange, black, red and yellow with brown spots. Ladybird diet comprises of plant pests such as aphids. By consuming plant pests, these predators save numerous plants from damages.
After reading these interesting ladybird facts, do check our other articles on monarch butterfly and giant water bug.
A ladybird beetle is an insect of the Coccinellidae family. These tiny beetles can be found on trees or plants as this is where they prefer to live. These round beetles are dome-shaped and have three distinct pairs of legs. They also come in a variety of colors like black, red, yellow and orange and they always have spots on their bodies.
A ladybird beetle belongs to the insect class of mammals.
There is not enough information available about the current living population of the ladybug species. But fortunately, they are not Extinct, and you can still find these lady beetles in your garden and farms. However, there used to be dozens of ladybugs in a single garden, now the number has reduced to one or two.
Ladybird beetles are widely spread all over the globe and ladybugs can be easily found in a garden or a farm. The spend most of the winters in temperate areas where they hibernate throughout the winters.
Lady beetles make their homes on plants. So, the ladybird habitat can be found anywhere where there are plants and trees. During cold weather, ladybugs hibernate in a secluded place.
Usually, ladybirds live alone. But sometimes ladybugs can gather in huge groups. Also, the majority of the ladybugs lay their eggs in groups.
The ladybird life cycle can extend up to two years.
The ladybirds reproduce by sexual reproduction. Every ladybird species have pheromones which help in attracting potential mates. As soon as ladybugs are able to find the mate, the mating begins. The male will make a grip on the female from behind and copulate. Their copulation can last for two hours or more. After this, their larvae or eggs, are born.
The conservation status of ladybird beetles is currently Not Extinct. The ladybird insect population declined heavily in the past few decades because of habitat destruction and climate change. The biggest reason that these ladybirds are declining in number, is because of climate change.
Ladybirds can be easily recognized because of their distinct appearance. The ladybirds are round and dome-shaped and have three pairs of legs. The pattern spots and markings depend on the type of the ladybird species. There are 5,000 ladybirds species, so that you can see a variety of distinct patterns and colors. These colors include yellow, black, orange and red. They always have the identifiable marking of spots, too. The head and the legs of the ladybird are black. The colored portion on the back and wings of the ladybug are colored and have seven black spots on them.
Ladybirds are indeed very cute insects. Their tiny body and colorful covering make them look attractive.
It will be fascinating to know that ladybirds use chemical signals, known as pheromones in order to communicate with each other.
Ladybirds are really small insects. Ladybugs measure up to 0.007-0.70 in (0.01-1.7 cm) long.
It will be really interesting for you to know that a ladybird can fly at a speed of 37 mph (59 kmph), which is nearly close to the speed of a racehorse.
Ladybirds weigh around 0.00004 lb (0.0007 oz) grams.
There are no notable or unique names allotted to the male and female species. Ladybugs are simply called male ladybird and female ladybird.
A baby ladybird is called a ladybird larvae.
Ladybirds feed on small plant-eating insects, such as aphids. The majority of the diet of these predators consists of aphids. Aphids are harmful to crops, and ladybugs feed on them and in turn protect the crops from such insects. This is why they are special, and important to keep protected.
No, not at all. These bright colored insects are actually very helpful as ladybird beetles protect crops from aphids. Ladybird bugs eat aphids, who eat crops. Therefore, ladybirds indirectly save a lot of crops from being ruined. Also, a ladybug is not poisonous, nor do they bite, so we can say that a ladybird is not at all a harmful insect.
Yes, ladybirds can be kept as pets. A ladybug doesn’t require that much care and is very easy to catch. But yes, these bright colored pets are temporary pets as their lifespan is short, and also, a ladybug will somehow manage to fly away.
There are said to be 5,000 species of ladybirds known to be present in the world.
The name ladybird was coined in Britain, where the ladybug was known as 'Our Lady's Bird'. The Virgin Mary was officially known as Our Lady. In the painting, she was portrayed wearing a red cape with seven similar spots on it.
It is considered lucky if a ladybird lands on someone. It is believed that if a ladybug touches something or someone, then that person or thing will be improved and become better.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including orb-weaver spider, or house centipede.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our ladybug coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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