You don't need to be an entomologist to have an idea of what a ladybug looks like. A small red bug with black dots is familiar to everyone since childhood and immediately catches the eye not only of humans, but also of representatives of the animal world.
Ladybugs are arthropod insects from the order Coleoptera; their front wings are transformed into hard elytra that cover the beetle on top like nutshells. A young individual is easily distinguished by its bright red or orange color; with age, the color of the elytra fades, but the number of black dots remains constant. The number of marks depends on the species of the insect. Today, scientists identify 360 genera of ladybugs, including about 4 thousand species, some of which are named by the number of black dots on the elytra .
Warning coloring is a special sign for birds and predators, meaning that there is a poisonous insect in front of them. In case of danger, these beetles release hemolymph from the joints of their legs - a substance that is deadly for many representatives of the fauna.
Seven-spotted ladybird
Seven-spotted ladybugs are the most common species , representatives of which inhabit the steppes, forests and gardens of Europe, Asia and North Africa; they were specially brought to North America several times to combat aphids, scale insects and other agricultural pests.
Seven-spotted ladybird.
Seven-spotted ladybug on a blade of grass.
The beetles grow up to 5 – 8 mm in length, their elytra are distinguished by a convex oval shape and a red or yellowish-orange color with 7 black dots: 3 on the elytra and one in the middle near the scutellum. Some individuals may have clearly visible white spots on the front of their heads.
Benefits of ladybug
Ladybug
But this does not offend the ex-wife of the thunder god, she is already accustomed to everything on earth and works like a bee. In the short breaks between requests and flights to the sky, the ladybug still manages to do a lot. Her efficiency and business skills are admired on all five continents. The ladybug is a predator that devours small pests of gardens and fields in countless quantities.
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It so happened that pests have multiplied incredibly in California, destroying entire citrus plantations. No chemicals helped, and then the Americans went to Australia, where ladybugs were breeding at that time, brought them from there, and the citrus pests were destroyed and left the citrus plantations alone.
In Transcaucasia, the ladybug also saved local gardeners. It is unknown where they got it from, but when the leaves of lemons and oranges began to wither before our eyes under the onslaught of pests sucking the juice from the leaves, agronomists caught a population of ladybugs somewhere and set the beetle on their tormentors. Within a few days, the ladybug brought complete order to the gardens, and at the same time took care of the tea plantation, which was also eaten by some pest, although it was not asked to do so.
Two-spot ladybird
Double-spotted elytra beetles are a typical European and North American species, also introduced to Australia as an effective biological agent. In 1991, the two-spotted ladybird was awarded the title of national insect of Latvia.
Two-spot cow.
Adults are about 5 mm long. The color of the insects is usually bright red, with one black spot on each of the elytra. The pronotum (the segment between the head and the elytra) is black with a yellow border or yellow with a clearly visible letter “M” in the middle.
Dots and color
If you come across this beautiful bug, then you need to pay attention to exactly how it looks.
If it is bright red, it means good luck awaits you very soon. There is a possibility that things may change for you in terms of your career. This color cannot portend something bad.
If the insect is orange, this may mean that some long-awaited event will happen soon. What you have been thinking about for so long will come true. The most interesting thing is that you don’t have to put in any effort.
If you come across a black bug with red spots, then we can say that this is very good luck. In fact, meeting one is very rare, but such insects do exist. Success will await you in everything and everywhere, no matter what you undertake.
As for the points, it also plays a role here, exactly how many there will be.
If there is not a single spot on an insect at all, then for a girl this is a sign
indicating that she will soon become pregnant.
One spot may foretell that the new business started will be successful.
If there are two of them, then most likely you will have to make some important and responsible decision. It's good if your relatives are on your side. Then there will be support for you. If there are more dots, then this may portend changes that will be pleasant and unexpected.
Our ancestors believed that by the number of dots it was possible to predict exactly how many happy days awaited you.
It is considered a good sign if you see an insect in the grass. This can portend financial success, as well as great luck in your personal life. It also depends on the area.
If you notice it in a cemetery, then this is a sign that one of your deceased relatives is protecting you. The soul of this person is next to you and will support you in all difficulties.
It is important to pay attention to what part of the body the bug has landed on. If it's your face or hair, then you need to be prepared for changes at work. There is also a chance of great luck and even inheritance.
Changes in your personal life and great love can be foreshadowed by an insect that lands on your neck. On clothes - for pleasant surprises or a big gift. If the bug is on your stomach, then this is a sign of meeting with friends.
Fourteen-spotted ladybird
Representatives of the species are widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa. Insect elytra can be painted in two color variations: black spots on a yellow background and vice versa. The number of dots is always constant and amounts to 14 pieces, some of which merge and form a bizarre, characteristic pattern with clear geometry.
Fourteen-spotted ladybug (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata).
Flew into the house
Ladybugs quite often fly into homes and always bring with them good news and positive changes.
If a ladybug has flown into an apartment or onto a balcony and is crawling along the walls or ceiling, then the exact interpretation of this sign depends on the circumstances under which the little guest was seen in the house , and also depending on the time of year:
- in spring, such a sign promises monetary profit and financial well-being;
- in summer the insect brings with it career growth and success at work;
- in the fall, the appearance of a spotted bug in the house indicates the imminent birth of a child, and if there are children in the family, it means that there will be complete harmony and mutual understanding in the relationship between household members;
- In winter, after such a visit, you can expect the marriage of one of the family members or the arrival of a distant relative.
It is considered a good sign to encounter this bug crawling on a child’s bed or marital bed. It means that the child will grow up healthy and happy, and all quarrels between husband and wife will stop, and they will live in complete harmony. If there is a sick person in the house, such a visit foreshadows his speedy recovery.
In order for a ladybug to bring positive changes, under no circumstances should it be kicked out of the house, especially in winter, when it will most likely die from hunger and cold. It is best to plant it on a flower pot - the little guest will soon fly away on its own or hide in some crevice and hibernate.
Alfalfa twenty-four-spot ladybird
The natural range of these beetles is in Europe and Asia; insects were brought to North America by humans. Unlike most ladybugs, these beetles are not predators, but typical phytophages that prefer to feed on the green mass of plants, especially alfalfa, soapwort and cloves.
Twenty-four-spot ladybird.
Twenty-four-spot ladybird.
A small beetle, 3-4 mm long, colored red with 24 black spots randomly scattered across the elytra.
Where did the name of the insect come from?
Before you figure out how many dots a ladybug has, it’s interesting to know why the insect was named that way.
It is believed that the colloquial name of the insect is explained by a respectful attitude towards it, and this name is different in different countries. In European countries, the insect is called the “Virgin Mary’s bug”, “sunshine”, in Latin America - “St. Anthony’s ladybug”. Most likely, the bug received the nickname “cow” due to its tendency to release “milk”—a liquid of a harmful composition—in case of a threat. Well, “God’s”, because the insect’s disposition is harmless and gentle. Its activity in nature comes down to the destruction of parasites and conservation of plantings.
Let's try to figure out how many dots a ladybug has and what it depends on.
Twenty-eight-spotted potato ladybug (epilachna)
Another vegetarian among cows, preferring potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and melons to aphids. Representatives of the species are found in the Far East, China, Korea and Japan. The beetle grows up to 5 mm in length, and its red wing covers are decorated with 28 black dots.
Twenty-eight-spotted potato ladybug (epilachna).
Other signs
Under no circumstances should you step on the messengers of good forces, which include ladybugs, otherwise the person will face failure, and if this spotted insect is killed by accident, you must definitely ask him for forgiveness and do some good deed. There are many other beliefs, regarding these cute insects:
- Meeting a flying ladybug is considered a significant event only if it ends up in an apartment or sits on a person - other options, including outside the window, do not mean anything important.
- One of the few bad omens associated with this cute insect is to see it in a web or in trouble, which could mean the machinations of enemies. To protect yourself from negativity, you should get it out as soon as possible.
- Bugs and butterflies that live in the cemetery are considered to be the embodiment of the souls of the dead, and if a person notices a spotted insect among the graves, there is no need to worry about the future - one of the deceased relatives provides serious support.
- Not everyone is able to see how a spotted insect washes itself or cleans its wings, so such a sight portends special luck.
- A ladybug can bite very rarely, since their jaws are designed exclusively for destroying harmful insects, but if this does happen, you need to pay special attention to the event. Perhaps the baby wants to warn about some troubles in the future or about the machinations of enemies. Otherwise, you should not be afraid of the bites of these bugs - they are practically painless and do not pose any harm to health.
- A ladybug can be an excellent talisman that will protect you from troubles and bring good luck. The only prohibition is not to use a dead insect as an amulet, otherwise the effect will be the opposite.
Ocellated ladybird
A member of the family that prefers to live in coniferous forests. The yellow or pale red elytra of insects contain about 10 black spots each, surrounded by a light border. The spots resemble an eye in appearance; they can be clearly defined, sometimes they blur or disappear altogether. Ocellated ladybugs can grow up to 1 cm in length.
Ocellated ladybug (lat. Anatis ocellata).
Ocellated ladybug (lat. Anatis ocellata).
Is it true that the number of dots on the back of a ladybug corresponds to its age?
In childhood, many people think that the age of the insect that “flies to heaven” and “brings us bread” can be determined by the number of points on its body. We checked if this is true.
Although the main contingent of carriers of this information are children of preschool and school age, in some places adults also participate in its dissemination. Some parents say that their children learned about the urban legend in kindergarten. And indeed, in the format “People say: how many dots a cow has, how old is she?” it is presented on the websites of the all-Russian online publication “Doshkolnik.rf”, the pedagogical magazine “Poznanie”, as well as on a variety of resources with ready-made presentations (ThePresentation .ru,
), which are actively used by teachers and educators in the post-Soviet space. The connection between the number of dots and the age of insects is played out in children's puzzles. Judging by some reviews, many adult citizens continue to believe in this version.
The ladybug has a special place in Russian folklore. The Slavs attributed to her a connection with the sun, and later in Rus' a tradition arose of asking a ladybug that had landed on a person about the upcoming weather. If the insect flew away, it was believed that the day would be clear; if it remained, it was believed that the day would be stormy. In addition, unmarried girls used ladybugs to tell fortunes - they asked where they would meet the future groom and how soon they would marry him, after which they blew the bug from the palm of their hand and looked for the direction. Some determined by the number of dots how many happy months there would be in the coming year. The legend that interests us also includes this series of beliefs.
However, in reality the situation is completely different. Firstly, the family of ladybugs is much richer than it might seem at first glance - it includes several thousand species. Secondly, the number of dots is not an age or even an individual characteristic, but a species characteristic. All individuals of one species have a certain number of points on the elytra (this is what this part of the insect’s body is called), and this number is often included in the name of the species. Thus, there is both the two-spotted ladybug (Adalia bipunctata) and the twenty-eight-spotted ladybug (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata), also known as the potato ladybug. However, these are, mathematically speaking, extreme values, and the most common type of ladybird in Russia and the world is the seven-spotted ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata).
Two-, seven- and twenty-eight-spot ladybirds
Moreover, there are ladybugs with both white dots and no dots at all - for example, in Britain the latter are represented by 21 species out of 47 living there. This company also includes the most common species of ladybugs in Latin America - Cycloneda sanguinea. However, this circumstance, apparently, does not affect the attractiveness of males or females.
Representatives of the species Cycloneda sanguinea
And, finally, one more fact that completely destroys the legend: these little creatures usually live from a year to two, that is, they could not “grow” to seven or 28 points.
Thus, information about the connection between the number of points on the body of ladybugs and their age is a popular belief that has nothing to do with reality.
Not true
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Description of this species, developmental features
Initially, the ladybug has the appearance of a larva, the size of which does not exceed 1 mm. It only takes her one month to move to a new level of development.
Then it already has a size of 8 to 10 mm. The body of the larvae is usually gray in color, but the head is yellow. The spots on the sides of this insect are also of the same color. The body has segments on which black spines with hairs can be seen.
In order to get food, such a larva can climb to a height of up to 12 m. During the day, to be full, it needs to absorb about 100 adult aphids or 300 of its larvae. After a month, the larva enters the pupal stage. It takes about 12 days for a ladybug to fully develop and mature. But it all depends on the air temperature: the warmer it is, the faster the pupa will turn into an adult ladybug.
What does this insect eat and what benefits does it bring to humans?
The seven-spotted ladybug is a predator. Moreover, at any stage of its development, it feeds exclusively on other bugs. It mainly eats various types of aphids, which live on all kinds of plants and trees. In addition, the bug eats the eggs of other insects: etc.
This beetle can most often be observed on fruit trees, currant bushes, as well as pine, aspen and bird cherry. The presence of such plants in the regions of our country indicates a large number of these insects.
How and where do ladybugs overwinter?
Cows have an individual approach to this issue. Adapted to a temperate climate, individuals hide from the cold in secluded corners: houses, various buildings. Rescue from frost and wind is another exception to the rule of a ladybug’s solitary life: to make it easier to endure unfavorable living conditions, the bugs cooperate in large communities, hiding in fallen leaves, cobblestones, and tree bark. Together they also organize winter flights to regions where the weather will continue to delight with its warmth.
During travel, insects are very vulnerable, and the journey can most likely end fatally for them, especially in inclement weather. Sometimes you can witness a picture of scarlet river banks, teeming with a large number of dead bugs. Insects always remain faithful to their chosen place for wintering and easily find their way back after the end of the cold weather. Researchers are still finding it difficult to give a clear explanation of this mechanism.
An insect runs along the edge of a leaf
Bad omens
In ancient times, people believed that a meeting with this insect could portend not only joy.
If you see this bug dying, then this does not bode well. But if you managed to save the insect, then you should prepare for a joyful event.
If it happens that this bug bites you, then you should be more careful. As a rule, this is a warning that ill-wishers live somewhere near you, most likely you are familiar with them.
To prevent anything bad from happening, you should not drive away the insect. You need to wait until the bug flies away.
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