15 Cool Facts About Ladybugs for Kids

Ladybugs are undoubtedly one of the most adorable insects and kids find them fascinating too! It is not only their dainty dome-shaped appearance with striking colours that attract kids towards them but the fact that children can safely hold them is what makes these tiny insects favorite with the kids! If your kid is one such ladybug fan, you can share some fascinating and fun facts about ladybirds with your child and the following blog shares that with you! Read on learn some cool facts on these stunning bugs!

Interesting Facts and Information About Ladybug for Children

These graceful creatures are considered lucky in some cultures. If you wish to know more, here are some interesting information and ladybird facts for kids:

1. Most people often think that ladybugs are red with black spots on them, well, in reality, there are more than 5000 species of ladybirds found across various parts of the world. Out of these 5000 species, approximately 450 species of ladybugs are found in North America alone.
2. These lovable bugs are found in many colours in various parts of the world. They can be yellow, pink, brown, orange, or black in colour. Some of these bugs may have spots on them and others may have no spots at all. There are also some varieties of ladybugs that have strips on them instead of spots.
3. These pretty insects hibernate in winters, which can extend up to nine months in some cases. During this time ladybird insects survive on their stored fat reserves. These bugs are most active from spring to fall. As winter sets in, they look for warmer places to hibernate. Usually, these hibernating colonies of ladybugs contain thousands of ladybugs.
4. Ladybugs are not actually a kind of bug and they are actually beetles and this is why they are called ladybird beetles or lady beetles. Ladybug in reality is a name given to Coccinellidae, which are types of beetles.
5. Ladybugs are considered one of the most useful bugs because they thrive on plant-damaging insects that include aphids. Ladybirds lay eggs in and around aphids’ colonies and as soon as these eggs hatch, they start feeding on aphids. A single ladybug can consume as many as 5000 aphids in its lifetime.
6. Ladybugs have four stages of metamorphoses, which is very much like butterflies. From tiny eggs, they turn into larvae where they appear like tiny alligators. During the larvae stage, the bug tends to shed its skin many times. Then the larvae enter the third stage, in which it turns into pupal. The pupal stage lasts for almost two weeks before they turn into ladybugs and this is the stage when their hidden wings appear too.
7. Ladybugs lay eggs before hibernating and they can lay as many as 1000 eggs in one season. Though these eggs are laid in aphid colonies, however, if there is any dearth of aphids to feed on, ladybugs may start eating their own eggs and larvae.
   
8. The ‘Lady’ before the bugs’ name has a famous legend behind it that goes back to the Middle Ages when farmers’ entire crops were attacked by swarms of aphids. On praying to Mother Mary, the framers noticed these tiny bugs on their farms and ate all the aphids that saved their crops. The thrilled and grateful farmers thus addressed these bugs as ‘Our Lady’s Beetles’ and since then these tiny insects got their name as ladybugs.
9. The tiny spots or lines on these adorable beetles are not only for appearance and looks but are also to shoo away the predators. Apart from their striking color and spots, ladybugs also emit a foul-smelling liquid when startled or threatened, which is toxic for small mammals and birds.
10. The ladybird habitat can be found in forests, grasslands, riversides but suburbs too. The seven-spot ladybugs were initially native to only the European sub-continent only, however, in 1900 these bugs were brought to North America to battle the obnoxious aphids’ problem which was destroying the crops.
11. The ladybugs have two types of wings. One set of wings is on the top, which acts as a protective shield for these bugs, however, the other set of wings is hidden underneath these wings, that is used for flying.
12. On average a ladybug can live for a year, starting from an egg to an adult stage. However, there are some species that may live up to two to three years too. Their natural predators include spiders, dragonflies, wasps, frogs, and birds.
13. One of the largest ladybugs washup occurred way back in 1940 in Libya when as many as 4.5 million bugs were found across the 21 miles shore. The facts for the same are not known, however, it was believed that these bugs were either swept across by windstorms or by water.
14. Ladybugs use their antennas and feet for smelling. Their feet and antennas also help them to look for food and know what is safe to eat. These bugs have eyes but these are not of much use because they cannot see clearly with their eyes. Their eyes can only help them to distinguish between light and dark only.
15. Ladybugs can have anywhere from 6 to twenty spots on their backs. These spots may increase in number as the ladybird ages. They also have 6 legs and three main body parts that include a head, abdomen, and thorax.

Children often find themselves drawn to ladybugs and also prefer holding and playing with them. Educate your child about this fascinating insect by sharing these astounding facts and information on them. We hope that this post does the needful in providing the information you are looking to share with your kids!

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