# Nine-spotted Lady Beetle (*Coccinella novemnotata*) The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle is a small, round bug with bright colors and nine black spots on its back. These friendly beetles love to eat aphids, which helps keep plants healthy! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens ![Nine-spotted Lady Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coccinella_novemnotata_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Frank E. Lutz, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coccinella_novemnotata_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Nine-spotted Lady Beetle has a distinctive oval, dome-shaped body, typically bright orange to red. It is easily recognized by the nine prominent black spots covering its wing covers, with four on each side and one shared at the top center. This pattern clearly differentiates it from many other ladybug species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Coccinellidae - **Genus:** Coccinella ## Interesting facts - In winter, many Nine-spotted Lady Beetles gather together for a long, cozy sleep! - Nine-spotted Lady Beetles were once super common but are now incredibly rare in many places! - These tiny beetles can 'taste' with their feet to find the best places to lay eggs! - They don't really chew food; they use special mouthparts to slurp up their meals! ## Special abilities - **Stink Shield:** Nine-spotted Lady Beetle can release a stinky, bitter fluid from its legs that helps them repel predators when they feel threatened. - **Spotty Signal:** Nine-spotted Lady Beetle has bright colors and bold spots that warn predators they taste bad, helping them avoid being eaten. - **Air Hopper:** Nine-spotted Lady Beetle can quickly unfurl its hidden wings to fly, which helps them escape danger and find new sources of aphids. - **Feigning Death:** Nine-spotted Lady Beetle can tuck in its legs and play dead, which helps them trick predators into losing interest and moving on. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-15 mm - **Size:** 5-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 250-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters mostly gobble up small plant-eating insects, keeping gardens healthy! - **Age differences:** Larvae and adults both primarily eat aphids and other small soft-bodied insects. - **Primary Foods:** aphids, scale insects, mites - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Keeps populations of these plant pests under control. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A food source for this common garden bird. - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Can become prey for this camouflaged spider. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [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. - [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 These beetles are safe to observe, but it's best not to touch them too much. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nine-spotted Lady Beetle? 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 Nine-spotted Lady Beetle's wingspan? 10-15 mm ### How big is Nine-spotted Lady Beetle? 5-8 mm ### How long does Nine-spotted Lady Beetle live? 250-365 days ### How fast can Nine-spotted Lady Beetle fly? 10 km/h ### What does Nine-spotted Lady Beetle eat? These tiny hunters mostly gobble up small plant-eating insects, keeping gardens healthy! ### Where is Nine-spotted Lady Beetle usually found? Urban areas, Gardens ### How does Nine-spotted Lady Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Sioux County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sioux-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site ## 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: [Nine-spotted Lady Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nine-spotted-lady-beetle)