Over 6,000 species of small, domed beetles, often red with black spots that warn predators they taste bad. Most eat aphids and scale insects, which makes them welcome in gardens.
Quick answers
What is it?Insect
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?Yes
In temperate areas ladybirds hibernate through winter, gathering in clumps; tropical species go dormant in the dry season.
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inWorldwide
HabitatGrassland, Farmland, Forest, Towns
ColoursRed, Black
SizeTiny
Legs6
Covered inExoskeleton
Lives ingroups
Lives for1 year
Can fly
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Worldwide.
- What it eats
- Mostly aphids and scale insects; some eat plants or fungi.
Did you know
Mostly eats aphids, which is why gardeners love it.
An adult lives up to a year.
Often confused with
On these lists
Sources
Last reviewed
Play
Could you have guessed it?
A photo, a few hints, one guess. Same 438 animals.
