Of all the insects who also inhabit this rock we live on, I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like ladybugs. They definitely don’t bite humans, they eat rose destroying aphids, and they’re pretty too. What’s not to like?!

Ladybugs are not actually “bugs” but rather beetles which is why some entomologists prefer the name “ladybird beetle”. Scientifically speaking, they belong to the Coccinellidae family which includes around 5000 species of ladybug around the world with North America having 500 different species. We typically think of ladybugs as being red with black dots but there are many different colors across the family including yellow and brown with some even having stripes instead of spots.

A very brief dive into their name “ladybug” is a very interesting rabbit hole but out of the scope of this post. I did find it interesting though that in many cultures, ladybugs are connected in one way or another with the religious and/or supernatural which is likely due to the fact that ladybugs eat pests and therefore are essentially protectors of crops. Of course, some people took a more literal approach to nomenclature with some Netherlanders allegedly calling them “cow bugs” in reference to their spots. Personally, I like to think of them as little red tanks!

One neat thing I found out about ladybugs is that they can secrete a smelly goo from their knees to help ward off predators. This “eau d’ladybug” alone often keeps other pests away and is currently being studied as a cheaper way to help farmers keep harmful bugs off their crops.

Earlier in the autumn, I was walking through the lawn in the backyard and notice a lot of movement in the grass. When I looked closer, I noticed the little red tanks were everywhere! So, being me, I ran inside and grabbed my camera and macro gear. Shooting ladybugs in the grass turned out to be more difficult than expected. At a distance, they appear relatively slow but once you get up really close, they are slippery little boogers! Just another reason to love them more. I definitely can’t wait to see them again next year!