| So...What's a Ladybug? Ladybugs are also known as lady beetles or even ladybird beetles. In European countries they are referred to as "ladybirds." Adult lady beetles are round beetles measuring no more than 3/8" in length. They can be red, orange, or black in color with or without spots. Larvae are said to look somewhat like an alligator in its shape with tiny spiked projections and orange striping on its blue or black body. Ladybug eggs are yellowish or whitish, oval-shaped and laid in clusters. Prey of the Ladybug  The favorite foods of ladybugs include aphids, spider mites and mealybugs. They will also prey on eggs of some insects, particularly the European Corn Borer and the Colorado Potato Beetle. Ladybugs in both the larval and adult stages feast on these insects. Interestingly, a ladybug will devour thousands of aphids in its lifetime! Ladybug's Habitat Many species of ladybugs are found throughout the United States, although one, the Asian lady beetle, was more recently introduced into the United States. Ladybugs are generally found in agricultural fields, orchards and gardens where their favorite foods, aphids, insects and mealybugs can be found. In the Fall, ladybugs will gather in large numbers in places where they will spend the winter - usually under rocks, leaves, old fallen trees and any other location sheltered from the weather. They will sometimes aggregate on the outside of a house in the warmth. If they venture onto or into homes, they may appear to be somewhat of a pest to homeowners, but do not harm them, since they are so beneficial. Take them outside when you find them inside of your home. You may want to seal or caulk cracks and around windows to prevent them from entering your home. Images courtesy of Oklahoma State University and Forestry Images.
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