Lady Bugs

Not all flying bugs make us cringe; some we actually like to have around. Take for instance, the popular lady bug.

I remember when I was young how I’d sit in the grass and watch them and hope I could get them on my hand. I’d count the spots and hope they wouldn’t fly away until I was done.

Did you know? The Ladybug is an insect of many different kinds and colors. Ladybugs are not always red with black spots; they can also be yellow, orange or scarlet. Some species are even brown with white spots.

Is the Lady Bug Really a Bug?

The lady bug is not really a bug but an insect that belongs to the Lady beetles family. Around the world ladybugs are also referred to as ladybird beetles.

It is also a common myth that you can tell the age of lady bugs by the number of spots on their back. Actually it is the species and genetics of the beetle that determine its spot pattern.

Are Lady Bugs Lucky Bugs?

I love seeing lady bugs in my yard and it somehow seemed magical when they landed on my hands and then my kids’ hands.

Many cultures believe the ladybug is lucky and some say when you spot one, you should make a wish. Maybe they are lucky as they can live 2-3 years in the wild, which is a long time for a bug no bigger than a small paperclip.

Folklore also says when you count the number of spots a ladybug has this is how many years of good luck you will have. I guess that’s why I think they’re magical.

Natural Pest Control

The lady bug is a useful insect to gardeners and farmers; some might call them a natural pest control source. They are predators of aphids, leaf hoppers, spider mites, and other insects. Aphids and other insects can ruin hours of work for farmers or the backyard gardener.

During their lifetime, the ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids and lay up to 1000 eggs. Many great rose gardens have been saved by lady bugs as they are often the first insects to appear in the springtime.

Watch Ladybugs as they Grow

If you’d like to observe ladybugs as they grow, there are kits you can buy and keep at home. A fun fall or winter activity is to get a kit which contains the ladybug larvae. You can spend the cold months indoors watching as your ladybugs change.

Keeping Lady Bugs in a Terrarium

Lady bugs will typically come out of hibernation when the temperature reaches 55 – 60 degrees. If the kids want to catch lady bugs and keep them as pets, a short term activity for them is to carefully catch them and keep them in a terrarium or something similar to observe over a few days.

They like moist foliage, a little grass and you can pick a stem with aphids to put in the terrarium. You can use a damp paper towel for them to drink and also feed them sweet, non-acidic fruits like raisins.

Let them back into nature after a few days.

Next time you and your kids see a ladybug in the yard, see if you can get it to land in your hand, then count the spots and make a wish. It can’t hurt right?