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darkestmad-er · 10 days

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🐞Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are beneficial insects with about 5,000 species worldwide and 150 in the U.S. They're gardeners' allies, preying on pests like aphids, mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, offering eco-friendly pest control.

Besides being pest controllers, ladybugs are pollinators, feeding on pollen and nectar, and aiding in plant fertilization for increased crop yields. They also help control populations of other potentially harmful insects like caterpillars, whiteflies, and leaf beetles, contributing to a balanced ecosystem.

Here are some common ladybug types:

1. Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Fuzzy brown)

2. Convergent (Most common in North America)

3. California Beetle (Spotless red)

4. C-7 (Seven-Spotted, most common in Europe)

5. 22-Spot (Bright yellow)

6. Cardinal (Black body with red markings)

7. Pink Spotted Beetle (Oblong pink)

8. Hadda Beetle (Yellow-orange potato pest)

9. Two-Spotted (Red with two spots)

10. Twenty-Spotted (Cream-colored)

11. Orange-Spotted (Black with orange spots)

12. Three-Banded (Tiger-like)

13. Eye-Spotted (With eye-like spots)

14. Fifteen-Spotted Beetle (Unusual white)

15. Twice-Stabbed (Black with red spots)

16. Pine (Black with comma-shaped spots)

17. Heather (Black with red row)

18. Larch (Brown with M mark)

19. Painted (Mottled brown and gray)

Each species has unique characteristics and roles in the ecosystem, with most being beneficial due to their diet of crop-damaging pests.

Image credit: Animal Spot / Text credit: Earth Unreal

#ladybug #🐞🐞🐞#nature is art

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alexanderalbion · 6 years

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Personal (Short) Project, Ladybirds (pt1) Secondary Research of Colours and Species

Upon establishing the project I began researching into the various types of species of Ladybird, to first begin understanding them (their role in nature, their food their habitats) and where I could find links to a more Gothic nature for design purposes, secondly to comprehend the various types of Ladybird and thirdly to record their colour and interpret them as need be in relation to the overarching project.

Here (above) and in the mood board link below you can see my visual research as an attempt to comprehend the variety of colours Ladybirds appear in. I found this first method of research useful for the way it lead many of the ladybirds names to be revealed upon further research and their relationship with one another.

Most ladybugs voraciously consume plant-eating insects, such as aphids, and in doing so they help to protect crops. Ladybugs lay hundreds of eggs in the colonies of aphids and other plant-eating pests. When they hatch, the ladybug larvae immediately begin to feed. Which to my mind whilst this is incredibly useful does bring a murderous image to the typical child friendly one we give.

One ladybird species which has been devastating to the population of the European natives has been the Harlequin. Harlequin feed on the larva of other ladybirds, butterfly eggs and other insects, potentially putting a number of British species at risk.

The types of species native to the UK include:

The two-spot ladybird ( Adalia bipunctata) has up to 16 black or red spots, which can be very variable – in splodges or in a grid pattern. It is the ladybird which most commonly overwinters in buildings

The pine ladybird ( Exochomus qadripustulatus) is round in shape with a pronounced rim around the margin of the wing cases. It is black with between two and four red spots; the spots at the outer front margin of the wing cases are comma-shaped. Inhabits needled conifers, sallows and willows, and overwinters in leaf litter, foliage and bark crevices of evergreen trees and shrubs

The 14-spot ladybird ( Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) is yellow or black with between four and 14 black or yellow spots, which are almost rectangular. Overwinters in various locations, usually low down

The orange ladybird ( Halyzia sedecimguttata) has 12-16 white spots. It overwinters in leaf litter or sheltered positions on trees and eats mildews. Considered until 1987 an indicator of ancient woodland, it has become widespread since it became common on sycamores; it has recently moved on to ash trees. It is attracted to light and is often found in moth-traps

Ten-spot ladybirds ( Adalia decempunctata) are extremely variable in colour and pattern. They can be cream, yellow, orange, red, brown, purple or black, with up to 15 spots. They live in deciduous trees and hedgerows and overwinter in leaf litter and beech nuts

The larch ladybird ( Aphidecta obliterata) is tan in colour and can have up to 10 spots. It lives in needled conifers and overwinters in bark crevices. Probably relies on camouflage for defence against birds but can also reflex bleed

The harlequin ladybird ( Harmonia axyridis) is an alien species, which is expected to spread rapidly as it outcompetes other species and is a major threat to them and some other insect groups. It has a yellow-orange, orange-red, red or black body with up to 21 orange-red or black spots, and white or cream spots, lines or solid marking on its pronotum (front plate)Photograph: Alamy

Harlequin ladybird ( Harmonia axyridis), succinea form (orange with black spots). Measures 5-8mm. Host plant: various, particularly lime and sycamore. Overwinters in houses and on rocky surfaces

The cream-spot ladybird. This species has a maroon-brown body with 14 cream spots; six of which form a line across the wing cases. Host plant: various deciduous trees and shrubs. Overwinters in plant litter, bark crevices and beech nuts

An eyed ladybird ( Anatis ocellata). At 7mm-8.5mm, this is Britain's largest ladybird and has a russet or burgundy body and up to 23 black spots, which sometimes have cream rings around them. Host plant: needled conifers, particularly pines. Will disperse from conifers in late summer when feeding up for winter. Overwinters in soil or leaf litter

A 7-spot Ladybird ( Coccinella septempunctata). Probably the ladybird most frequently noticed in Britain, it is red with up to nine black spots and measures 5mm-8mm. Habitat: varied, but often low herbage. Overwinters in low herbage and in conifer foliage

The seven-spotted ladybird ( Coccinella septempunctata). The pronotum is black with anterior-lateral white marks

A striped ladybird ( Myzia oblongoguttata). Chestnut with cream stripes and up to 15 spots, it is most commonly found in mature Scots pine woodland. Preferred prey are the large brown aphids of the genus

16-spot ladybirds ( Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata). These beige insects, with 13-18 black spots, measure only 3mm and are often overlooked. Found in grassland and meadows, they overwinter in low herbage, gorse, plant litter, on fence posts and stone walls, often in large aggregations. They feed on pollen, nectar and fungi

The water ladybird (Anisosticta 19-punctata) is usually from late summer, turning reddish in April-June. Distinctly elongate and flattened in shape, it has 15-21 black spots and inhabits reed-beds and wetlands, overwintering between leaves and in stems of reeds and grass tussocks

22-spot Ladybird ( Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata). This species measures 3mm-4mm and is yellow or black with 20-22 black spots. The pronotum has five discrete black spots. Host plant: various, particularly hogweed. Overwinters in low herbage; feeds on mildews

One factor I hadn’t considered but upon research for the logo will be the amount of spots of the ladybird meaning the size to spot ratio of the lady bird will need to be considered.

Mood board Link

Full mood board shows All 36 of 10 images.

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/AlexNYCriver/pp-ladybirds

Extra Links

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8401476.stm

http://www.ladybird-survey.org/bbc/spotter.php

https://www.ladybug-life-cycle.com/classification-species-types.html

https://animalcorner.co.uk/ladybird-species/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/ladybugs/

http://www.ladybird-survey.org/species_list.aspx

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2013/jul/22/ladybird-species-harlequin-uk-insects

https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Ladybug

#PersonalProject #PersonalProjectLadybirdsPT1 #PersonalProjectLadyBirds #LadyBirds #LadyBugs

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