Ladybugs are called ladybugs only in North America, mainly in the United States. In other parts of the world, they are more commonly called ladybirds. They are also known as ladybeetles and ladybird beetles.
- Their main food source is generally other insects, especially plant lice and plant parasites, though there are rare sub-species of ladybugs that eat plants.
- These small insects are actually members of the beetle family.
- Ladybugs have been known to effect wine and grape juices in a negative manner. How? When grapes are harvested, sometimes ladybugs are pulled into where the grapes are pressed. If there are a lot of ladybugs introduced into the wine or juice, there occurs what is known as "ladybug taint." Basically the wine or juice has an awful flavor.
- Ladybugs secret a fluid from their joints that tastes bad to other creatures. This not only causes the "ladybird taint" mentioned above, but it's also a defensive mechanism to keep other creatures from eating ladybugs.
- Ladybugs hibernate when winter comes along.
- Ladybugs are actually born as a black larva. They eventually enter a pupal stage, much like butterflies, and when they emerge they have their colorful wings.
- These insects beat their wings at 85 per seconds when flying.
- The average life span of a ladybug in the wild is two to three years.
- Ladybugs are often "farmed" or "harvested." Basically, some farmers breed ladybugs to create a large amount of ladybugs. Why? Because ladybugs eat other insects that are destructive to crops.
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