“Excuse me sir, but would you please call me by my correct name…. I am a LADY BEETLE, not a common bug!”
Some explanation is in order for our snooty ladybeetle. Lady bugs are really beetles, not bugs. All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. Within the insect world, there are several distinct groups, Butterflies and Moths belong to Lepidoptera, Flies belong to Diptera, Dragonflies and Damselflies belong to Odonata, True Bugs belong to Hemiptera, and all beetles belong to the order Coleoptera. That is where the lady beetles fall. Beetles are the most common type of insect. They represent 40% of all insects combined and 25% of all known animal life forms. So, what is the difference between a beetle and a bug? First look for the wings and wing covers. Most insects have wings, and those that do have two pairs. Beetles differ from all other winged insects by having the first pair of wings hardened and thickened. These hard forewings serve as a protective shield for the fragile flying wings, which are folded underneath. In fact, the Latin name for this order, Coleoptera, means “folded wing”. Wing covers in beetles meet in a straight line down the middle of the back and are called elytra. The second major difference between beetles and true bugs is that beetles always have chewing mouth parts, while the mouth parts on true bugs are designed for piercing and sucking.
Ladybeetles come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. There are 5000 species of ladybeetles in the world, 450 species in North America, and 16 species in Ohio. 12 of the species are native and four species are considered invasive and have been introduced by commercial means. One of the invasive species, the Asian Lady beetle has become a real nuisance in the fall.
In 1975 the Convergent ladybeetle was designated the State Insect. The proclamation read, “The ladybug is symbolic of the people of Ohio—she is proud and friendly, bringing delight to millions of children when she alights on their hand or arm to display her multi-colored wings, and she is extremely industrious and hardy, able to live under the most adverse conditions and yet retain her beauty and charm, while at the same time being of inestimable value to nature.”
Ladybeetles are an extremely important cog in the food chain. Ladybeetles go through a complete metamorphosis i.e., eggs, larva, pupa, and adult. Both the adult and the larva are vicious predators and will eat anything they can catch, especially aphids and other soft insects. Unfortunately, this is why we have four invasive species in Ohio. The fact that “ladybugs” eat lots and lots of aphids, many garden catalogues sell ladybugs as an “organic” way to control aphids. The main species that is sold has been the Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle. Other species included the Seven-spotted, Variegated, and Fourteen Spotted. However, the Multi-colored Asian has become a major problem for homeowners.
In the fall these beetles will congregate in the thousands inside homes. When agitated, they give off a very noxious odor and when you multiply that smell by thousands you get a very stinky situation. They also can inflect a painful bite. DO NOT try to vacuum these beetles unless you have a cheesecloth inside the sweeper hose. The cheese cloth collects all the beetles and can be easily pulled of the hose and tossed in the garbage. If the beetles go directly into the sweeper bag, you will never get the stink out of the sweeper!
There are several common ladybeetles that you might see in your garden. The pink ladybeetle and polished ladybeetle are the most common. The Convergent and the Parenthesis might show up from time to time, while the remaining seven species are considered rare. Two of the rarer species are unique in their marking, the Three-banded and the twice stabbed are really unique in their patterns and coloration. So, the next time you are out and see something small and red, take a look. You might be surprised at what you find.
