Ladybugs
- Learn about the ladybug. What are the characteristics of the ladybug?
- Describe the life cycle of the ladybug. Make a poster.
- Are all ladybugs red?
- Make 2 ladybug pet rocks. Give one away.
Helps
- Ladybugs are a type of beetle. They have six short legs and two antennae. Their top flying speed is about 15 mph. They hibernate in winter. They let out a yellowish bad smelling liquid when they are mad. (See websites for more information.)
- The female will lay 3-20 football shaped orange eggs in a circular cluster on the underside of leaves. Eggs are not visible to the naked eye. In 2-5 days, the eggs turn into larva and consume up to 400 aphids in 21 days. They next turn into a pupa. After 2-5 days the adults come out and continue to eat. Adult ladybugs eat during the day and will each consume over 5,000 aphids.
- There are over 450 species in North America. Some are black or vary from reddish orange to pale yellow. The most common in the U.S. is the Convergent Lady Beetle, which is orange with black spots. The number of spots vary per species. There are five states in the U.S. that have the ladybug as the state insect.
- God shared the ladybug with us; now we can share the ladybug with someone else.
Resources
Painting on Rocks for Kids by Lin Wellford (North Light, 2002)
Websites
- nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/ladybintro.html
Includes pictures. - insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/MES/notes/entnotes6.html
This site discusses protection and shows wing patterns. - enchantedlearning.com
Learn about the life cycle and find colouring pictures and the true story of ladybugs on the space shuttle.
Additional Activities
Release real ladybugs. Colour pictures of the ladybug and/or their life cycle. Use pom poms to make ladybugs.
Advent Source Product Code: 004741