Ladybugs have bright-colored bodies and different spots on their elytra or the hard-wing shell covering them. They are identified by the number of colorful marks on their bodies, as there are thousands of ladybug species in the world, and look fascinating with various colors of elytra.
Do Ladybugs Always Have Spots? Ladybugs usually have spots on their elytra, and the bright colors and marks on their bodies which are warning signs for predators about their toxic nature and help them survive. They are not always red with black spots, but the number of spots, color, and shape vary among the species, as some have one or two dots, while others have zero or dozens of marks. They usually have spots symmetry, but some species have random spots, bands, or strips.
They are commonly observed in different states of North America, as more than 500 ladybug species are present in North America. They can control the pests in your gardens to a great extent and reduce the need to use pesticides or other chemical products without damaging the plants.
Do all ladybugs have spots?
They have spots on their bodies, but some of their species do not have any dots or marks, as the size, shape, and color of these beetles vary among species.
However, the difference in number of spots can occur within the same species due to the genetic factors. Depending on their genes and habitats, some of these beetles have broad markings and strips, as the growing conditions also affect their appearance.
In addition, one of my friends told me all species do not have red or orange color bodies and black dots because it is one of the most common color ladybugs observed in North America.
He told me that these beetles are in different parts of the world and vary in color and number of spots, as he saw nine round dots on the ladybugs in Australia, while 13-spotted or convergent ladybeetles are more commonly present in Florida and are native to this State.
He studied a lot about different species of ladybugs because he has many beetles in captivity and loves to raise and feed them.
He said the shape of the spots varies among a diverse range of species; for example, some species have round marks, while others have kidney-shaped or oval dots.
He said he observed some of their species have bands and strips instead of spots, and the variations are due to the gene fluctuations during metamorphosis.
I was impressed by his knowledge about these beetles because I did not know these details about them, so I decided to attract some species in my yard to control the aphid population.
Why do ladybugs have spots?
They always have bright color spots on their bodies, which warns the predators that they are toxic and distasteful to eat. The predators take the bright color as the toxic prey and try to avoid eating these beetles, as they can get sick after consuming these insects.
Ladybugs have toxic chemicals in their bodies, which help them defend and protect themselves against many predatory insects, birds, and mammals.
Therefore, the bright body colors and prominent bands or markings are the adaptations of these beetles to help them survive in the wild and other living sites.
They do not contain enough poison to kill the predatory bird but cause discomfort and sickness, and they will avoid consuming these beetles in the future.
Therefore, they have these spots on their bodies to deter predators and ensure survival. Moreover, my cousin told me that the number of round marks on these beetles also helped identify the species because each ladybug species has a particular color and number of dots on its body.
However, sometimes, they have different numbers of spots within the same species or no marks or bands at all. These markings help them in mate selection because they prefer to mate within their species for successful reproduction.
Larvae of these beetles also have different colors and start developing spots on their elytra in the pupa stage.
How many spots do ladybugs have?
Different species of these beetles have varying numbers of spots, as some are named after the number of marks they have on their bodies.
For example, some famous species include seven-spotted ladybugs, nine-spotted ladybugs, twenty-spotted ladybugs, two-spotted ladybugs, fourteen-spotted ladybugs, eighteen-spotted ladybugs, and many more.
The most common ladybug species in North America are convergent and seven-spotted ladybugs. The seven-spotted ladybugs have orange or red elytra with seven black spots, three on each side and one in the center.
Black ladybugs have red or orange marks on their bodies, while convergent ladybeetles have bright red or orange bodies with black spots.
The maximum number of spots recorded on ladybugs is twenty-four, known as Subcoccinella 24-punctata with orange-red color and black dots.
Similarly, I saw a yellow-colored ladybug with fourteen black spots, and I was fascinated to see this bright beetle because it looked captivating crawling on the flowering plant.
My friend told me about other yellow-colored ladybugs, such as twenty-two-spotted ladybugs (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) and sixteen-spotted ladybugs (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata).
Moreover, Squash lady beetle, Fungus-eating yellow ladybugs, transverse ladybugs, checkerspot ladybugs, pink spotted lady beetles, Eyed ladybugs, ten-spotted ladybugs, and mealybug ladybirds have different numbers of markings and varying colors on their bodies.
The number of these marks or bands does not vary with gender, as females and males from the same species do not have different spots. They have nothing to do with gender, as it depends on genetic variation.
Why do some ladybugs have no spots?
Some ladybugs have no spots due to the genetic variation and different color pigmentation during metamorphosis under varying situations in their surroundings.
Asian lady beetles have zero to many spots, depending on the genetic diversity among individual species.
Genetic diversity means that each Asian lady beetle has a different gene combination inherited from their parents.
Genetic variation can affect the number, color, and shape of the markings on these beetles, such as some convergent lady beetles that have changed color from other fellow species.
My colleague told me that the color pigments in their elytra cause color variation, and the genetic makeup of these species controls the coloration.
Some species have evolutionary adaptations of having plain bodies without any markings to camouflage, and the environmental conditions also cause diversity in genetic makeup during developing stages.
Moreover, the larvae do not have spots, but they develop these dots during the developing stages, such as they fade at a young age and become prominent when they enter adulthood.
Are ladybugs spots symmetrical?
Nature adores symmetry, and these beetles usually have spot symmetry, as they have the same number on each side of their bodies.
For example, two-spotted ladybugs have one spot on each side, and convergent ones have six round marks on each side of their elytra.
Similarly, I observed some nine-spotted ladybugs in my garden a few days ago and noticed the symmetry on their elytra.
They had four spots on each elytra side and one in the center, divided between both sides.
However, I studied the symmetry of different species and came to know that all ladybugs do not show spots symmetry; for example, they have a different number of round marks on both sides.
What are the myths about ladybug spots?
Various myths and misconceptions are famous among people in different countries and cultures about the number of markings on these beetles.
One of the most famous misconceptions about these beetles is that people think the number of spots on their bodies shows their age.
For example, the ladybug with seven spots means it lives seven years. However, it is wrong in scientific point of view because the species with 22 marks will not live 22 years because they ideally have a shorter lifespan than many insects.
Moreover, people also relate these dots with the number of children they will have in the future; for example, if a ladybug with two spots lands on you, you will have two kids in the future.
In addition, the farmers believe that the number of marks on their bodies shows a good harvest; for example, the fewer spots on the beetle you encounter, the more good a harvest you will have.
Some people in North America believe that the number of dots on ladybugs shows how much money you will receive in the future.
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