# 24-spot Ladybird (*Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata*) The 24-spot ladybird is a small, colorful beetle with 24 black spots on its red shell. These friendly insects love to munch on tiny pests like aphids, helping gardens stay healthy and happy! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Gardens - **Also known as:** 24-spot Ladybug ![24-spot Ladybird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Marusi%C3%B1a_en_Bastavales_2010-07-07-01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marusi%C3%B1a_en_Bastavales_2010-07-07-01.jpg) ## Appearance The 24-spot Ladybird is a small, oval-shaped beetle, typically reddish-orange with 24 distinctive black spots. Unlike many ladybirds, its body often has a slightly matte, velvety appearance and fine hairs, making it look less shiny. Its numerous spots are usually small and evenly distributed. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Coccinellidae - **Genus:** Subcoccinella ## Interesting facts - Baby 24-spot Ladybirds, called larvae, also munch on plants, growing bigger with each leafy meal! - It's one of the rare ladybirds that eats plants, not pesky aphids like its relatives! - Its amazing scientific name, 'vigintiquatuorpunctata,' literally means 'twenty-four spotted' in Latin! - When scared, it can play dead, pulling in its legs and antennae to fool predators! ## Special abilities - **Plant Muncher:** 24-spot Ladybird can eat plant leaves because it has specialized mouthparts that help them scrape and chew vegetation. - **Reflex Bleeder:** 24-spot Ladybird can ooze a foul-smelling yellow liquid from its leg joints that helps deter predators when threatened. - **Spotty Warning:** 24-spot Ladybird has bright colors and spots that visually warn predators it might taste bad or be toxic. - **Quick Escape:** 24-spot Ladybird can quickly fly using hidden wings that helps them rapidly move between plants to find food or flee danger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 6-8 mm - **Size:** 3-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 300-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Unlike most ladybirds, this species munches on plant leaves and pollen, not other insects! - **Primary Foods:** Bindweed leaves, Thistle leaves, Clover, Various plant foliage - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Field Bindweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-bindweed) (*Convolvulus arvensis*) — eats leaves and flowers, causing feeding damage - **Eats:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — consumes plant foliage, especially younger leaves - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — is prey for this common insectivorous bird ## 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. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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 always wash your hands after playing outside. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 24-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 24-spot Ladybird's wingspan? 6-8 mm ### How big is 24-spot Ladybird? 3-4 mm ### How long does 24-spot Ladybird live? 300-365 days ### How fast can 24-spot Ladybird fly? 8 km/h ### What does 24-spot Ladybird eat? Unlike most ladybirds, this species munches on plant leaves and pollen, not other insects! ### Where is 24-spot Ladybird usually found? Gardens ### How does 24-spot Ladybird hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Grand Circus Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-circus-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Monroe Avenue Commercial Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monroe-avenue-commercial-buildings) — Michigan, US · Historic Site [View all places to see 24-spot Ladybird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/24-spot-ladybird) ## 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: [24-spot Ladybird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/24-spot-ladybird)