# Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (*Coccinella septempunctata*) The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle is famous for its seven black spots on a bright red body. These little beetles are great at keeping pests away! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 169 - **Habitat:** Gardens, crops, and meadows - **Also known as:** Common Ladybird, Seven-spot Ladybird ![Seven-spotted Lady Beetle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424803/objects/5490.jpg) ## Appearance The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle is a small, domed insect with shiny, bright red or orange wing covers (elytra), each typically featuring three distinct black spots. Its black head displays prominent white markings on either side, and a seventh spot is usually present at the base of its wing covers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Coccinellidae - **Genus:** Coccinella ## Interesting facts - An adult can eat up to 5,000 tiny aphids in its lifetime! - If threatened, they will often play dead, falling motionless to the ground! - Ladybugs aren't bugs at all; they are actually a type of beetle! - Their spots can actually fade a little as they get older! ## Special abilities - **Winged Wanderer:** Seven-spotted Lady Beetle has hidden wings under its hard shell that help them fly quickly to new food sources or mates. - **Danger Signal:** Seven-spotted Lady Beetle has bright red and black markings that tell predators 'don't eat me, I taste bad!'. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-14 mm - **Size:** 5-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 300-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These helpful beetles love to munch on tiny plant-eating insects like aphids, protecting plants! - **Primary Foods:** aphids, scale insects, mites, mealybugs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — A favorite meal for both adult and larval beetles. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Some birds, like tits, learn to avoid their bitter taste. - **Eaten by:** [Cross Orbweaver](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cross-orbweaver) (*Araneus diadematus*) — Sometimes caught by spiders despite their warning colors. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [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. - [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. - [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) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Seven-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 Seven-spotted Lady Beetle's wingspan? 10-14 mm ### How big is Seven-spotted Lady Beetle? 5-8 mm ### How long does Seven-spotted Lady Beetle live? 300-365 days ### How fast can Seven-spotted Lady Beetle fly? 15 km/h ### What does Seven-spotted Lady Beetle eat? These helpful beetles love to munch on tiny plant-eating insects like aphids, protecting plants! ### Where is Seven-spotted Lady Beetle usually found? Gardens, crops, and meadows ### How does Seven-spotted Lady Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District [View all places to see Seven-spotted Lady Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/seven-spotted-lady-beetle) ## 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: [Seven-spotted Lady Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/seven-spotted-lady-beetle)