Lady Bugs

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Lady Bugs

Lady Bugs are among the most iconic of insects in the world, defined by their glossy red wing covers spotted over by distinct black spots. Often found in gardens, crop fields and in the canopies of different trees, they are popular not just in terms of their looks, but also for their status as non-pests.

The 1998 hit A Bug’s Life featured a Lady Bug character, one which sported a character twist where the lady bug wasn’t a lady but a guy. Though the movie didn’t exactly boost the world’s interest in Lady Bugs, it did lead a lot of viewers in asking about Lady Bugs, with most inquiries revolving around how male Lady Bugs differ from female Lady Bugs.

Another question delved into the feasibility of keeping them as pets. Here are quick answers to those questions:

Male-Female Lady Bugs – as insects Lady Bugs aren’t exactly “bugs” but are a type of beetle, which basically makes up the coccinellidae family of beetles. They are defined by varied color patterns, with orange, yellow and red with black spots on wing covers being the most commonly encountered.

As a species, there are male and female lady bugs, and their physical difference isn’t really all that different.

Lady Bugs as Pets? - as pets, lady bugs are often kept temporarily, but a number of “long term” lady bug pet owners are known to be around, particularly those who maintain terrariums, which are miniature gardens, maintained in various types of cases.

Lady bugs are typically kept as terrarium fixtures because of their small size. . Moist paper towels or alternative modes of keeping a terrarium moist would be one requirement in keeping lady bugs, along with feeding them with non acidic fruits.

“Pet” lady bugs are also known to respond well with raisins, and their upkeep isn’t really all that challenging.

One thing about lady bugs is that they’re not prone to consume fabrics or paper, or cause damage on plants, so lady bug pet owners don’t have anything to worry about when lady bugs get out from their enclosures.

If you own a terrarium and feel that it could do with some splashes of color, adding in a lady bug may be a good idea.

Who knows, you just might well become a “long term” lady bug pet owner.

Lady Bug Pictures