Types of ladybugs

It may sound like an extremely strange name, but when we see its coloration we can understand everything: the elytra are black and on top of that they have two red dots, one on each elytra. The name refers to these points, which seem to be blood gushing out.

It is found in North America, associated with trees, grasslands and in cultivated areas, where it is voluntarily introduced because its predatory nature of aphids is a great service that they offer and that helps keep plants free of pests.

It is characterized because on the black head it has two fine thin white lines that come together, or that converge, and this is what gives them both their common and scientific name. The body is red, and they can have several points that are never more than 13.

It is found in North America, and in areas where it is colder, they usually hibernate both to exceed the temperature and to avoid seasons where there is no food. As soon as winter passes, they wake up and make enormous migrations to move to places where there are more resources.

You can identify it because it always has 7 black dots on the red elytra, with a certain arrangement: three are on the sides and one in the center. It is extremely common in Europe, and has already been introduced to other parts of the world for being very efficient as a pest predator.

However, it is classified as a poisonous ladybug, although it must be said that it is not dangerous to humans. When it senses danger, its legs begin to drain a liquid rich in alkaloids and orange in color, which has alkaloids that are harmful to predators such as spiders.

As its name indicates, it has two black points on its elytra, which are the part of the back that covers the red wings, but it is an extremely variable species that can have more points, or even lack them. To differentiate it, you can see its black head with two large white dots on the sides.

It is quite common in Europe and there are also them in North America, where they have the greatest variability in colors and patterns. It is classified as a poisonous ladybug, since its eggs are bathed in toxic alkaloids that serve to ward off possible predators that want to eat them.

It does not always have the same number of black spots, nor the same color of elytra. They can be found in a range of warm colors. They are found in orange, red and even yellow.

They also have the defense mechanism mentioned above, in which they ooze alkaloid liquid from their joints to scare away their predators. It has been introduced outside of the Asian continent for pest control purposes, but has prospered too much and is now an invasive alien species displacing native species.

This is another example of highly variable ladybugs: more than 100 different patterns and colors are recognized, and despite its name, it does not always have 14 spots. They can be yellow or orange, either the main color of the elytra or the points. The latter are usually very large and arranged in a united manner similar to an anchor, although they exist in other patterns as well.

Its spots are very peculiar, compared to other ladybugs. The elytra are red, and on top they have black dots with a yellow to white halo, which gives them the appearance of eyes. They have a wide distribution, ranging throughout the northern hemisphere such as Europe and North America.

It is native to Eurasia, associated with temperate coniferous forests, especially near spruce trees. When winter comes, it hides between the thin leaves of these trees or between the bark, until the temperature rises again. It is a yellow ladybug, with large black spots joined together and a diffuse margin.

It is characterized by being brown, both the body and the head, with the elytra decorated by beige to cream-colored dots. It is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere of both continents, reaching the United States and Japan, respectively. It lives in forests, but has already adapted to more anthropogenized environments, such as parks, cultivated grasslands, and even among the garbage they can be seen.

This species stands out because they are very aesthetic ladybugs. Its elytra are a very shiny brown color, which in the light looks iridescent, and in the shadow it can look almost black. On the elytra it may have three points that dissolve into a stripe, but they may also be absent. It is native to the northern hemisphere, but has already been introduced to practically all continents.

It is characterized by being a yellow ladybug, and because it has a peculiar diet different from that of most ladybugs, whose main food is aphids. This ladybug consumes the fungal mildew that grows on plants in its native Europe.

Now that you know some types of ladybugs, you may also be interested in knowing the Types of mantises.

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