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Variegated Lady Beetle

Hippodamia variegata

The Variegated Lady Beetle is a small, colorful bug that helps keep gardens healthy by eating pests. They have spots and stripes that make them look very pretty!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Variegated Lady Beetle has an oval, dome-shaped body, typically red or orange with many black spots that vary in size and number. Its most distinctive feature is an M- or W-shaped black marking behind its head on a white or pale yellow background, which helps distinguish it from other ladybugs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyCoccinellidaeGenusHippodamia
Variegated Lady Beetle
spotted trait badgestriped trait badgesolitary trait badgecolorful trait badge
Variegated Lady Beetle

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Before becoming a beetle, its larva looks like a spiky, pest-eating mini-dragon!

Some lady beetles gather in huge groups, called aggregations, to survive winter's cold!

These beetles can survive extreme cold by producing a natural "antifreeze" in their bodies!

They were named "Our Lady's bird" by farmers grateful for their pest-eating help!

Special abilities

Ability

Toxic Shield

Variegated Lady Beetle can release a foul-smelling, yellow liquid from its legs because it contains toxic alkaloids that deter predators.

Ability

Pest Patrol

Variegated Lady Beetle can devour hundreds of aphids because it has powerful mandibles that help it crush soft-bodied pests.

Ability

Clever Play-Dead

Variegated Lady Beetle has the ability to play dead (thanatosis) that helps them trick predators into thinking they are not worth eating.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
6-10 mm
Size
3-5 mm
Lifespan
30-90 days
Flight Speed
3 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

These beneficial beetles are insectivores that mostly eat tiny, soft-bodied plant pests like aphids.

Age differences: Larvae and adults share similar predatory diets.

Primary Foods

  • Aphids
  • Scale insects
  • Mites
  • Small insect larvae

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Cotton Aphid

Aphis gossypii

Keeps aphid populations in check on plants.

parasitizes

Lady Beetle Parasitoid Wasp

Dinocampus coccinellae

A tiny wasp lays an egg inside the beetle's body.

depends on

Peach Tree

Prunus persica

Uses peach trees as a hunting ground for pests.

eaten by

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Despite defenses, sometimes prey for birds.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Lady beetles are friendly and safe to touch, but be gentle!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Variegated Lady Beetle's wingspan?

6-10 mm

How big is Variegated Lady Beetle?

3-5 mm

How long does Variegated Lady Beetle live?

30-90 days

How fast can Variegated Lady Beetle fly?

3 km/h

What does Variegated Lady Beetle eat?

These beneficial beetles are insectivores that mostly eat tiny, soft-bodied plant pests like aphids.

Where is Variegated Lady Beetle usually found?

Urban areas

How does Variegated Lady Beetle hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Variegated Lady Beetle have?

6

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