Ladybug and aphid - friend and enemy in the garden

Beetles, like other insects, can be harmful or beneficial. The first ones strive to reduce our harvest, destroy flowers and harm trees. The latter are trying their best to help us and exterminate dangerous relatives.

We have written about insect pests more than once. Now it’s the turn to recognize our defenders by sight.

All garden pests in tables with descriptions, photos and control measures
We have compiled a “dossier” for you on each pest - save this collection!
All garden pests - photos, names, descriptions and control measures
We have collected for you dossiers on 60 or more garden “villains”.

Lacewing

Another insect that gardeners often get is the lacewing. “A pest or a protector in front of me?” - the man thinks and, just in case, drives away, or even destroys the poor thing.

But an experienced gardener knows that this light green insect, similar to a dragonfly, is one of the most important enemies of aphids. But this beauty does not harm the garden, does not eat fruits, does not sharpen wood, and does not feed on “work colleagues.” Why is she offended? Most likely, this comes from simple ignorance. And the appearance of the larva has an effect - to those who are afraid of insects, they all seem the same. In fact, it is the larval form that eats most of the aphids. Adult insects often feed not on the pests themselves, but on the sweetish substance they secrete.

Who is this lacewing? Pest? Or is it still a defender? Rest assured, this insect will only benefit your garden by eliminating enemy aphid colonies.

Types of aphids, characteristics

Aphids are insidious pests. There are many varieties of them - garden and vegetable:

Green apple aphid - damages young trees of apple, pear, rowan and hawthorn;
Gray apple - damages old fruit-bearing orchards;
Plum - the leaves of the tree dry out as a result of its activity, the fruits rot;
Cherry aphid - destroys young cherries and sweet cherries;
Leaf aphid - injures young currant leaves of all types, does not disdain other plantings;
Gooseberry - the scourge of gooseberries,
Melon aphid - causes serious damage to garden plantings: cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkin and squash plantings, peppers, root vegetables - carrots and beets. It can live both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions.

Aphids multiply quickly and, if ignored, can completely destroy a crop. Over the summer, she breeds several offspring. By the way, ants are also carriers of aphids. It is necessary to fight it throughout the entire summer season.

It poses a particular threat when it inhabits the tops of shoots in large numbers, which has a negative impact on the formation of buds for the future harvest.

Alpine barbel

This beetle can be found not only in the Alps - it lives in the Caucasus, the Carpathians, and the Crimea. Handsome longhorned beetles prefer to live in mountain forests.

They live, as a rule, on old and decaying beeches, maples and oaks. Unfortunately, the alpine longhorned beetle is now on the verge of extinction, and its population is constantly declining. This beetle can have not only a blue color - there are individuals with black, gray, and even pale pink hair.

Longhorned beetles are extremely thermophilic, so they can only be seen from July to September.

Basic characteristics of an insect

A ladybug is a small bug, the length of which does not exceed 10 mm (in most cases it is about 6 mm). The insect has an oval or round body shape. Some species have fine hairs on the top of their wings. The body of a ladybug consists of a head, pronotum, chest, three pairs of legs and wings. The insect has a motionless head. The ladybug has relatively large eyes and antennae that are highly flexible.

Thanks to three pairs of legs, the insect can move quite quickly on grass and ground, and a little worse on sliding surfaces. Thanks to two hind wings, ladybugs move perfectly through the air.

The insect has an excellent defense mechanism against predators (animals, other insects, birds). The bug secretes a toxic yellow liquid with an unpleasant odor. The bright colors of the ladybug, beloved by many, also scare away enemies.

Floral scents for evening guests

Depending on the species, flowers open their corollas at different times of the day. This allows the workload of pollinators to be evenly distributed and gives individual species a chance to be seen. A large group of flying pollinators - night moths - appear at a time when most flowers have already folded their corollas. At this time, moths are usually hungry and go hunting for nectar.

This gives some types of flowers the opportunity to stand out from the crowd and beat out the competition by taking advantage of their ability to bloom after sunset. Many species follow this strategy, for example, evening primrose, which is native to North America. Only with the onset of dusk does it open its corolla and begin to exude aroma. This sweet message attracts moths, which immediately land on the pale yellow flowers.

Nocturnal plants often have yellow flowers, as this is best seen in the dark. However, not all flowers wait until dusk to show themselves in all their glory. Soapwort (Saponaria ofcinalis) keeps its petals open all day, but only at dusk begins to emit a scent. The same can be said about paniculata phlox, whose pale pink petals are easy to spot even at night.

If you love to sit in the garden on warm summer evenings, you might want to plant some night-time flowers near your favorite spot. Your efforts will be rewarded with the opportunity to observe visits from overnight guests, many of whom you have never seen before.

Aphids are the favorite “friend” of ants

Aphids are very prolific, and a few days are enough for them to spread throughout all the beds.

At the same time, the insect does not neglect any plant: cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkins and even weeds - everything is used. The danger is that aphids suck the juice from the leaves and at the same time poison the plants with poison, which causes their disease and death. If you leave the pest on the plantings, you can forget about a good harvest

In addition, aphids attract ants with their honeydew, which will take care of them and feed them on the best plants.

If you leave the pest on the plantings, you can forget about a good harvest. In addition, aphids attract ants with their honeydew, which will take care of them and feed them on the best plants.

The good news is that aphids are afraid of numerous folk remedies and, with regular treatment, will leave the beds alone. Infusions and solutions made from soap, zest, ash, hot pepper, and onion will repel insects and save your vegetables.

How to fight aphids - effective folk remedies Aphids are one of the most dangerous garden pests. Find out how to get rid of this insect using traditional methods.

What natural remedies exist to combat the carpet beetle?

Carpet beetles are most often attracted to loose or easily consumed food sources.

They usually feed on damaged tissue, but can chew through entire tissue.

They especially love to feast on hairballs, dust, lint, damaged furniture and clothing.

So clearing away the debris that attracts them is one of the best ways to prevent them. Regular vacuuming and dusting will also keep infestations at bay.

The longest lasting infestations are those that have a constant food source.

So if you have old furniture or damaged pieces of fabric, this will definitely be attractive to them.

Old clothes, carpeting, old rugs and sheets are especially attractive to these pests.

Therefore, one of the best things you can do is to go through your belongings, looking for any materials that may contain these pests and get rid of them.

You will have to regularly clean and launder all your fabrics to keep your home carpet bug-free.

If you are not using a particular fabric, store it in an airtight container to make it difficult for bugs to access.

Bugs are especially frustrating, and once you spot one, you'll no doubt be doing some spring cleaning for a few days afterwards.

Here's a more detailed guide on how you can rid your home of these carpet beetles.

The first thing you should do is vacuum your surfaces. If you see adults or larvae on your carpets and furniture, vacuum them immediately.
Steam cleaning is your next step. Steam clean over the same areas you vacuumed, and the heat and moisture will remove bugs and eggs.
Wash your pillows and clothes. Use hot water and detergent to wash your clothes, linen towels and clothing. The water should be as hot as possible so that you can kill both the adults and the larvae. If your clothes have been contaminated, the best thing to do would be to throw them away unless you want to wash them. Ultimately, you need to dispose of them in a plastic bag and place it in a sealed trash container.
Vinegar is very useful in getting rid of carpet beetles. Wipe or spray your surfaces with vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar. This can be done on your shelves, window sills, drawers, hangers and carpets to remove any dirt or food debris.
If you are still afraid that they will remain, apply boric acid to the infected areas. Sprinkle this insecticide on your furniture and carpets and you will kill any remaining bugs. The boric acid should be left untouched for about two hours and then vacuumed up the residue and disposed of in a vacuum bag.
If you want to use an internal insecticide, you can do so. This can be used around your baseboards, under sinks and any cracks or crevices where you think your carpet beetles might be hiding.

How to get rid of carpet beetles?

Once you have discovered a carpet beetle infestation in your home, you need to make a decision.

While there are many home remedies you can use to eliminate them from your home, many people feel more comfortable calling a professional exterminator.

However, if you want a few more options when it comes to ridding your home of these pests, here are a few steps you can try.

One of the best ways to eliminate them is to use an insecticide.

To make sure the product won't stain your carpets, test a small area quickly.

Also, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure it is safe for use with pets and people.

Diatomaceous earth is another natural product that you can use to rid your home of these pests.

Ultimately it is a desiccant that will kill the bugs by dehydrating it. You can use it to rid your closets, beds and even furniture of these pests.

You should apply it the same way you would apply boric acid to eliminate pests.

When purchasing this product, choose one that is safe for people and pets.

However, when applying it, you should use a mask and a respirator to avoid inhaling fine dust particles during application.

Although these pests may not chew your items, the adult females will lay eggs and breed on your fabrics and carpets.

You should also keep some bug spray on hand to use when you encounter them.

Prevention is always better than cure.

So to stop adult carpet beetles from entering your home and breeding, hanging sticky tape near your windows will catch them.

If you find that you have this pest infestation, use sticky pheromone tape on windowsills and cabinets to stop them from entering and laying eggs.

Natural ways to fight

If there is a need to get rid of aphids, but there is no desire to use chemicals, then you can turn to their “natural enemies”.

So what do aphids eat?

Who is the most dangerous enemy of pests?

Natural eaters of aphids, that is, those for which they are the main food:

Ladybugs are small beetles that inhabit almost the entire Earth. They have an unusual color: the scarlet body is covered with black round spots.
They prefer to live in open areas; meadows, gardens or steppes are perfect. For protection, they use the liquid secreted by the joints of the legs; it has a sharp, unpleasant odor that scares away enemies.
The main food of ladybugs is aphids (you can learn more about the eating of aphids by ladybugs from this material). The most active period of their extermination occurs from spring to late autumn. To attract such beneficial insects to the garden, plant daisies, tansy, yarrow, dandelions or dill in your area. To prevent adults from flying away, provide them with constant feeding.
For example, the drug “Wheast” is suitable; it can also be made at home; for this you need to mix yeast and sugar in a ratio of 1/1 and then dilute with water.
Lacewings are net-winged insects known since ancient times. Adults prefer plant food, however, the genus Chrysopa and all lacewing larvae are predators.
The basis of the diet is aphids and psyllids. Most active at night.
Tansy and cumin are suitable for attracting lacewings.
Sand wasps or as they are also called “burrowing wasps”.
Most do not feed on aphids, but the subfamily Pemphredoninae is known for preying on them.
Gardeners usually do not give preference to wasps in the fight against aphids, but take note that to attract them you will need a convenient place for the future wasp family to live.

Optional group

What other insects eat pests? This:

Earwigs are omnivorous insects, often settling near residential areas where they feed on plants, but also eat garden pests, preferring sedentary individuals - mites and aphids. Due to the voraciousness of earwigs, people prefer to get rid of them in the garden. Tongs perform a number of vital functions, including holding food items and protecting them from threatening factors. When frightened, the earwig arches its body, puts its pincers out and secretes a special secretion. In this form, she is very similar to a scorpion.

Crickets are also omnivorous insects, the field cricket being the most common. They prefer plant foods and are classified as garden pests. Crickets are omnivorous insects that feed on both plant foods and can attack small invertebrates and eat other small insects, thus satisfying their need for protein supplements, which are necessary in the diet of every cricket.

Ground beetles are predatory nocturnal beetles, most usually eat slugs, snails, worms and others. Some species have a more varied diet and feed on a wide variety of insects, including aphids. Attracting them is quite simple - the more pests on the site, the more ground beetles. The common ground beetle is a family of beetles, which includes over 25 thousand species in the world and more than 3 thousand species in Russia. The insect belongs to the order Coleoptera, up to 60 mm long, and has different color options from dark to metallic tint.

Spiders, due to their feeding habits, mainly eat only winged aphids. Aphids that fly into the web remain there and become natural food.

Also, if aphids fell to the ground and were not carried by ants, then spiders can easily feast on them. The role of spiders is very high everywhere: in gardens, vegetable gardens, fields and vineyards, where they eat springtails, leaf rollers, turtle bugs, aphids and other insects. It is very important that spiders are able to find pests both on the ground and in the leaf layer.

Other creatures can also feed on aphids. They are often eaten by small birds and hoverflies.

If there is a large concentration of aphids, even very large populations of their eaters will not help you secure the area. In this case, you will need to resort to other methods of influence.

Slugs: The Unsung Heroes of the Garden

After a good rain, they invariably appear in your garden - whole hordes of slugs and snails. I admit, like every owner of a plot, I am not very happy to see them in my garden.

When I see my newly planted zucchini or cabbage seedlings disappear in one day, or my greens and herbs - even in the form of quite large shrubs - being eaten before they can put out new leaves, these invertebrates are in danger of losing my favor.

But despite all this, I do not treat them as enemies who must be fought with all means. I simply move them from the garden to another corner of the garden.

Like all living creatures, slugs and snails play a role in the ecosystem. They help fungi reproduce by carrying their spores, and also serve as food not only for hedgehogs, but also for many other species, including the larvae of fireflies, lizards and thrushes.

If you treat slugs as a nuisance and hunt them down with poison or beer traps, this will also “hit” their natural enemies. In addition, you risk accidentally killing representatives of such a rare species as the red roadside slug (Arion rufus).

Red slug? Rare? That's right, the population of this once widespread species has seriously decreased in recent years. However, few people care about its fate, since in our area you can often find a Spanish slug very similar in appearance to it.

What do ladybugs eat?

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.

In addition to aphids, these red bugs eat various insects that 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 accidentally introduced.

Today, it is a fairly common myth that ladybird larvae eat crops such as beans, peas and other legumes. 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:

The pointless coccinellid is widespread in the central part of Russia. In addition to aphids, the diet of this species includes alfalfa, clover, sweet clover and similar plants.
Alfalfa beetles eat sugar beet and alfalfa plantings in the southern part of Russia.
Twenty-eight-spotted ladybugs live in the Far East and feed on the leaves of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables.

The diet of an adult is no different from the diet of insect larvae. The only thing that can be noted is that they require different amounts of 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 find a suitable place 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 a good 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.

Why is the bite dangerous? Is it poisonous to humans?

The bite of almost all varieties does not pose a danger to humans. The affected area of the skin turns red and begins to itch. But after a few hours the discomfort disappears completely.

An exception is the bite of a yellow ladybug (harlequin). Another name for the insect is variable harmony (Harmonia axyridis). At the actual site of the bite, only a small spot remains. But the poison contained in the saliva and on the legs of the insect can cause severe allergic reactions in both animals and humans. A few minutes after the lesion, the following clinical signs of allergy begin to appear:

swelling of the mucous membranes;
severe dizziness;
rapid heartbeat, tachycardia;
loss of orientation in space;
lack of coordination.

The bite of a ladybug with 28 points also causes similar consequences. As first aid and prevention, a person bitten by these insects should take a dose of an antihistamine (suprastin, diazolin, tavegil).

The ladybug laid eggs. Soon there will be offspring.)

Manifestation

Aphids in a greenhouse are almost invisible to the eye. First, aphids settle on the lower part of the leaves, and only then on the buds and young shoots. It sucks the vital juices out of them, as a result of which the leaves curl, the shoots grow poorly, the flower stalks become bent, and the buds dry out without ever blooming. In bulbous perennials, in addition to the ground part, the bulb itself is also damaged.

At the same time, the pests secrete sugary excrement, “honeydew,” which freely spreads throughout the plant, attracting ants, wasps, flies and bees. Sedentary aphids are in symbiosis with ants, supplying them with food, and the ants protect it and move it to a new place (this applies to wingless individuals).

IMPORTANT! The hidden danger is that various phytopathogenic viruses are transmitted along with aphids. If the first moment of the appearance of pests is missed, then your greenhouse will soon have a very depressing appearance

Colonies of parasites can ruin all greenhouse plants.

Ladybug feeding

When the temperature rises to 13 degrees Celsius, most of the ladybugs already cover shrubs, grass meadows, grain crops, forest plantations and other green spaces.

They are very fond of alfalfa and barley fields. The activity of beetles increases due to a favorable climate and the appearance of additional food, because their favorite delicacy, aphids, appears on shrubs and grasses.

Just for the development of one larva, 1000 aphid insects are needed. The daily diet of an adult beetle is up to 200 insects.

Thus, the beetles destroy a huge number of aphids, thereby saving farmers from the destruction of their crops.

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 “ladybugs,” they think of bright red beetles with black spots, although these beneficial insects come in a variety of colors, with or 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.

Fire beetle (Cantharidae)

Another red-and-black helper at the dacha is the firefighter beetle from the Myagkotelki family (these beetles are often called soft-bodied beetles).

Adults are diurnal. They can be seen on plants, where they sit and wait for prey. Firefighter beetles happily eat flies, small caterpillars, aphids, scale insects, and destroy insect eggs. If it happens that the number of beetles exceeds the amount of food, firefighters can change the diet and switch to plant food - buds and ovaries. However, this happens extremely rarely.

Fire beetle larva

Soft-bodied larvae, like adults, are also predators. However, they lead a more secretive lifestyle: they live in fallen leaves, the top layer of soil, under the bark of trees, under stones. Fire beetle larvae feed on worms, slugs, centipedes, larvae and eggs of other insects.

Life cycle of coccinellids

Coccinellidae is one of the largest families of Coleoptera. They lead an isolated lifestyle, but gather in large groups for the winter. Insects migrate to favorable conditions, often finding refuge in the mountains among stones. Before the onset of cold weather, a colony of several million individuals can gather. Not all beetles migrate; many overwinter near the fields where they lived in the summer. They hide under fallen leaves, branches, grass.

In the spring, insects wake up and fly to gardens and fields to look for food. The ladybug eats aphids and accumulates energy for reproduction. Fertilized females lay eggs and then die. Usually, with sufficient nutrition, coccinellids live for 1 year; in some cases, the life cycle extends to two years. In their development they go through 4 stages:

Reproduction

Sexual dimorphism of beetles is weakly expressed; outwardly it is difficult to distinguish a male from a female. Ladybugs use pheromones to attract partners. The female takes care of the nutrition of the offspring in advance; she lays eggs close to the developing colony of aphids. During the season, the female lays from 200 to 600 eggs. They are usually oval shaped and yellow or orange in color. They are arranged in even rows, the masonry is 15-25 pieces. The hatched larvae are 1-2 mm long; the little ones are unable to hunt, so they eat the eggs of pests. The offspring grows quickly, after a month their body reaches 8-10 mm.

Pied beetle (Thanasimus formicarius)

Another useful beetle is the ant beetle (other names are ant beetle and bark beetle). Among pied beetles, not all species are beneficial. For example, the bee moth (common bee beetle) is a pest beetle, because destroys bee larvae and pupae, and sometimes adult insects.

The ant moth, unlike its brother, is a welcome guest in any garden and forest. It hunts for bark beetles, eating adults, pupae, larvae, and eggs. If on the path of an ant beetle there are tar beetles, borers, longhorned beetles or horntails, then it destroys these tree pests as well.

Pied beetle larva

It is not difficult to recognize the Pied Beetle: its red and black elytra with two white bands immediately catch the eye. The size of the insect ranges from 5 to 10 mm. But it is unlikely that you will be able to see the pinkish ant beetle larva, because... it hides and exterminates pests (larvae are also predators) under the bark of trees.

Where do ladybugs spend the winter?

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.

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.

Can this insect bite or not?

It is believed that the ladybug is the most peaceful creature that can never hurt a person. In fact, the friendly nature of an insect can be replaced by an aggressive attitude under the influence of certain factors. For example, the long flights that insects make before the onset of cold weather are very tiring for small bugs. They are especially exhausted by bad weather - strong wind or rain, under the influence of which such insects fall to the ground. Finding themselves on a person at such a moment, they can pinch him with their micro-claws. Stress, what can I say.

Only a yellow or ladybug with 28 spots can truly bite. When you count out loud to twenty-eight, expect a cow bite. In their usual habitat, these insects do not attack humans. But in a stressful situation they can bite, causing noticeable pain.

Harlequin ladybug (lat. Harmonia axyridis)

How to attract beneficial insects?

In addition to aphids and insects, ladybugs also eat pollen. And the pollen of some plants is preferable to them than the pollen of others. Examples of herbs that can be planted in your area to attract beetles include:

Calendula is a perennial herbaceous plant. Grows well in bright sun. Blooms in a lush bright orange palette. Attracts ladybugs.
Dill is an unpretentious green plant that is extremely effective in attracting beetles. A widely used spice.
Cornflowers are a perennial plant that attract ladybugs well.
Coriander is a wonderful spice that attracts beetles during flowering and growth.
Geranium - this unpretentious plant will also help you attract ladybugs.
Tansy is a decorative and quite useful plant in our topic.
Dandelion - surprisingly, but such a familiar herbaceous plant to us, is also extremely effective in exterminating aphids.
Cosmea - this amazing flower can become not only a wonderful garden decoration, but also an equally pleasing protector.
Yarrow is one of Ladybug's favorite plants.
Mint – This herbal tea will help you at dinner and provide a complete meal for Coccinellidae.
Fennel is a medicinal plant that requires fertile soil and warmth, but more than pays for these efforts with a good indicator of ladybug immigration into your territory.
A succession of sun-loving decorations for your garden will also serve as an excellent bait for beetles. Among garden herbs, this flower will stand as a beacon for cows.

If you want your vegetation to be favored by ladybugs, then:

Never use insecticides. These products affect both harmful and beneficial insects. And they last a long time after use.
You can also buy or transfer beetles from stores or other people's lands, naturally, with the permission of the owner of the beetles.
Ferramonium baits can also be used. They also show themselves to be an effective measure in attracting ladybugs. It is preferable to combine it with the first advice on planting certain varieties of plants on your site.

The reader may find other useful information on our website about other ways to combat aphids:

Folk remedies for fighting aphids.
How to get rid of aphids on orchids at home?
How to get rid of aphids on peppers?
Who eats aphids, and what else is used to kill them?
What to do if there are aphids on your favorite roses?
How to control aphids on fruit trees?
How to deal with pests on cucumbers?
How to fight aphids on indoor plants and win?
How to effectively fight aphids on currants?
How to deal with white aphids on indoor and garden plants?

Reproduction and lifespan

As soon as these insects manage to recover from the vicissitudes of winter, migration or hibernation, instinct begins to push them to reproduce their own kind. And they begin this process somewhere in the middle of spring.

Formed specimens (usually these are individuals at least 3 months or six months old) are preparing for mating. Males, obeying the natural program, find partners based on their unique smell. It comes from specific secretions of female individuals.

Next, the females attach their eggs, tapered at the ends and oval in shape, to the leaves of the plants on the back side. Cows deliberately choose those places where there is a sufficient supply of food for future offspring, most often in the epicenter of colonies of insects suitable for food, for example, aphids.

Cow eggs are white, orange or yellow in color, and their number can reach up to four hundred in one clutch.

A ladybug's clutch can contain several hundred eggs.

It’s sad, but having done its job, the female dies. But life goes on, because the eggs soon (no later than two weeks) hatch into flat or oval larvae.

Their color is variegated and is a kind of composition of black, white, but more orange and yellow areas. And in some types of cows, the larvae are covered with thin hairs or bristles.

At first, the nutrients contained in the shell of their own egg are quite sufficient for them to live. But after a few days, the future cow begins to exterminate pests. One larva can consume up to fifty aphids per day.

Ladybug larvae also feed on aphids

And a gathering of them quickly makes short work of entire colonies. One or two months pass after saturation and growth, and then another stage begins - pupation.

Varieties, their names, descriptions and photos

Point-to-point

The body length of the two-spot ladybug reaches about 5 mm. The color is dark red with two parallel black dots on the back (hence the characteristic name). The body has an oblong-oval, moderately convex shape.

The head of light-colored individuals is black, with two large irregularly shaped spots (near the eyes). Dark bugs have a completely black head.

Seven-point

The seven-spotted ladybird is one of the most common species in Europe. The body size is about 8 mm. The color is red, and there are 3 black spots on the sides. The seventh spot is located near the head.

Thirteen-point

The thirteen-spotted ladybird has 13 spots on its surface. Color - red-brown or brick. In this case, some spots may merge with each other. The insect is common in Europe, Asia and North America.

Asian

The Asian ladybird or Harlequin reaches a length of 7 mm. It is either yellow-black or black-orange in color. The insect lives in Asia and feeds on aphids.

Ocellated

The ocellated ladybug is considered one of the largest and reaches a length of approximately 1 cm. The color is red or yellow. In this case, each of the spots is surrounded by a lighter halo. There are 20 such “eyes” on the back of the insect.

Pointless

The spotless ladybird is one of the rarest species, characterized by a complete absence of dark spots. The body of the insect is red or brown in color and covered with barely noticeable fibers. The insect reaches several millimeters in length.

The blue cow is the most unusual representative of this family. A distinctive feature of the insect is the blue color of the elytra with a characteristic metallic sheen. Dark spots on the back are absent (or simply not visible, because they merge with the dark blue color).

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.

The body, wings and abdomen of an adult insect are black. The wings are mainly red or orange in color with spots characteristic of this insect (7 points). For this reason, the seven-spotted ladybug was named so. Three dots are on one red wing, and the same number on the second. But the 7th spot can be seen near the beetle’s head.

Adult ladybugs begin to appear outside in the first half of June, when it begins to warm up. In places where the heat comes faster, you can find ladybugs in May.

They eat aphids and can eat up to 60 adult pests in a day. A ladybug lives from several months to two years. The description of the larvae indicates that for growth and rapid development they eat much more aphids than adults.

Ladybugs belong to the order Coleoptera or beetles. The Latin name for insects is Coccinellidae. The number of their species is more than 4 thousand, distributed throughout the world. The body has an oval convex shape similar to half a ball. It consists of three main sections: head, chest and abdomen.

In adult individuals, the fore wings are modified into hard elytra, and the hind wings are used for flight. The insect has 3 pairs of legs consisting of four segments. One of them is small and therefore invisible. The limbs are covered with hairs. The abdomen consists of 6 segments.

The usual color of the ladybug is red with black dots. Their number depends on the type of insect; it can be from 2 to 28 spots. In Russia and Europe, the seven-spotted ladybug is the most common. The beetle has 3 spots on each elytra and one in common. Body length 7-8 mm. The bright color is a warning signal for enemies who will try to eat the insect. When attacked, it releases a caustic yellow substance. This liquid can leave a burn on the mucous membranes of a reptile or bird. The coloring of different species of insects can differ radically; there are black ladybugs with red dots.

Beetles choose their place of residence depending on the nutritional preferences of the species. Some settle in trees in light forests, others in meadow grass, and others near water bodies. They are heat-loving insects that prefer temperate latitudes.

Lifestyle

Representatives of yellow and red ladybugs have the same size up to 12 mm . Any insect of this species has hard elytra. Their main function is to protect the second pore of the wings during flight. Both red and yellow ladybugs are excellent flyers. Their wings beat up to 85 times per second. Also, during the course of evolution, these little bugs have learned one clever trick. In case of danger, they pretend to be dead by pressing their paws. Yellow ladybugs live for more than a year. Nature measured out the same amount of time for her red sister.

Varieties, their names, descriptions and photos

Point-to-point

The head of light-colored individuals is black, with two large irregularly shaped spots (near the eyes). Dark bugs have a completely black head.

Seven-point

Thirteen-point

The thirteen-spotted ladybird has 13 spots on its surface. Color - red-brown or brick. In this case, some spots may merge with each other. The insect is common in Europe, Asia and North America.

Asian

The Asian ladybird or Harlequin reaches a length of 7 mm. It is either yellow-black or black-orange in color. The insect lives in Asia and feeds on aphids.

Ocellated

Twenty-two-spot ladybird (lat. Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata L.)

The twenty-two-spot ladybird is not the most noticeable representative of Siberian ladybirds, but, like the others, it deserves sufficient attention.

Twenty-two-spot ladybug

This is a fairly small beetle (3-4 mm in length). The pattern on the upper side of the body consists of a yellow background and black dots: four dots on the pronotum surround one at the scutellum, and the elytra bear eleven dots each (one of them is inconspicuous, located on the lateral margin). In males, the pronotum is often paler than the elytra.

Twenty-two-spot ladybug

The twenty-two-spotted ladybird is widespread in the temperate climate zone of Eurasia - in forest and forest-steppe zones. It lives mainly in damp places, where it feeds, unlike other ladybugs, on phytopathogenic fungi - powdery mildew, and thus brings some benefit.

Twenty-two-spot ladybird (lat. Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata L.)

These cows have an interesting feature of remaining invisible. It is enough to find a plant with a whitish coating of powdery mildew on the leaves and stems and look carefully to find twenty-two-spotted ladybugs. However, if you look at the same plant quickly, you may not notice them at all, because they sit on the underside of the leaves.

Twenty-two-spot ladybug

The twenty-two-spot ladybird larva is also yellow and black and also feeds on powdery mildew.

Adults reproduce in June, gathering in groups on a plant infected with a food fungus.