Bugs at Your Service
Ever imagined that ladybugs could be useful? That these little creatures could be beneficial? Did you know that bugs are a delicacy in numerous parts of the world? Live Ladybugs are a gardener’s most special friend. Since generations man has utilized these tiny beings in several ways like in garden as a natural pesticide, medicines to relive pain etc. It has even served as food in many communities. Lady bugs and their enmity with aphids have intrigued mankind so much that to observe them, they were even sent in a space shuttle to explore their defense strategies in absence of earth’s gravity. So
About ladybugs in general:
Ladybugs are generally put under the beetle family. They are supposed to be the most common type of beetles available in the world. In some countries they are differently known as ladybirds. Yet another name that they are known with is lady beetles. These tough creatures can survive in almost any type of weather conditions be it hot or cold. This accounts for the large population of these beetles across the globe. Mostly thought they are found in the wetlands. They are very tiny creatures and usually colored red or slightly yellow or orange. They have beautiful little black dots over their body which complements their beautiful hides. How long a ladybug survives depends on various conditions like the temperature of the locality, humidity and the quantity of food supply. To evolve from an egg into a fully grown adult a ladybug may require around four weeks. Within them they have around 5000 species. They have nice enemy deterring techniques. They have a disgusting taste for their predators. When a Ladybug is even Slightly Disturbed, to avoid their Enemies, their Joints Leak a Distasteful and Smelly Liquid . At the beginning of the spring season, the adult ladybugs search for food and upon locating a cluster of pests to eat, start laying eggs. A ladybug normally can lay around 50-350 eggs in her entire lifetime. Eggs start hatching in approximately five days, and the larvae starts eating the pests from the pest colony. Then they usually pupate. After 10 days the adults spring out. There are usually 5-6 generations of these ladybugs every year. Autumn season is meant for hibernation of the adults.
Their usefulness:
Ladybugs are one of the most obsessed and determined predators. They often spend the entire time from dawn till evening searching for more food. This coupled with their astounding reproductive capabilities make them highly useful in clearing out an entire area of pests quite rapidly and effectively. Their large multiplying errors leave no scope for any error of leaving out pests in any particular patch of the garden. Ladybugs not only consume their favorite food aphids but are dangerous to several other varieties of common pests that infect plants and crops, as well. Some of them are chinch bugs, alfalfa weevils, European corn borer, mealy bugs, etc.
