# 22-spot Ladybird (*Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata*) The 22-spot ladybird is a small, round bug with 22 black spots on its yellow body. These friendly insects love to eat tiny pests like aphids, helping plants stay healthy and happy. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** 22-spot Ladybug ![22-spot Ladybird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thea.vigintiduopunctata.7231.jpg&width=800) Photo: Please report references to olei@despammed.com ., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thea.vigintiduopunctata.7231.jpg) ## Appearance The 22-spot Ladybird is a small, bright yellow beetle, typically 3-5mm long, adorned with exactly 22 distinct black spots – 11 on each wing case. Its round, dome-shaped body makes it easily recognizable and visually different from the common red ladybirds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Coccinellidae - **Genus:** Psyllobora ## Interesting facts - Its spots are so precise, there are exactly 22, never more or less, giving it its name! - This tiny ladybird helps plants by eating the fungus that makes their leaves turn white! - Unlike most ladybirds, it eats tiny plant-destroying fungus like mildew, not garden pests! - When scared, it can play dead, dropping to the ground and staying still to fool predators! ## Special abilities - **Reflex Bleeding:** The 22-spot Ladybird can ooze a bitter, foul-smelling yellow fluid from its legs because of special joints that helps them scare away hungry predators. - **Spotlight Camouflage:** The 22-spot Ladybird has bright yellow and black spots that helps them blend in with pollen and also warns predators they taste bad. - **Flight Power:** The 22-spot Ladybird can fly swiftly on clear wings hidden beneath its colorful shell because of strong wing muscles that helps them find new food sources and mates. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 6-10 mm - **Size:** 3-5 mm - **Lifespan:** 300-400 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This special ladybird eats tiny plant-destroying fungus, like powdery mildew, to stay healthy! - **Primary Foods:** Powdery mildew, Fungal spores, Plant fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Grape Powdery Mildew (*Erysiphe necator*) — Feeds on this fungal pathogen. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds may prey on ladybirds. - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Spiders ambush ladybirds on flowers. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Ladybirds are safe to touch, but be gentle and let them crawl on your hand. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 22-spot Ladybird? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is 22-spot Ladybird's wingspan? 6-10 mm ### How big is 22-spot Ladybird? 3-5 mm ### How long does 22-spot Ladybird live? 300-400 days ### How fast can 22-spot Ladybird fly? 5 km/h ### What does 22-spot Ladybird eat? This special ladybird eats tiny plant-destroying fungus, like powdery mildew, to stay healthy! ### Where is 22-spot Ladybird usually found? Urban areas ### How does 22-spot Ladybird hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [22-spot Ladybird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/22-spot-ladybird)