# Western Fairy Lady Beetle (*Psyllobora borealis*) The Western Fairy Lady Beetle is a small, round beetle with a bright yellow body and black spots. They are friendly little bugs that love to munch on soft, fuzzy mold and keep our plants healthy. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Western Fairy Lady Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Psyllobora_borealis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Psyllobora_borealis.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Fairy Lady Beetle is bright yellow with variable black spots, typically 11-13 on its rounded, dome-shaped body. Its distinct yellow color and pattern make it easily recognizable among other lady beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Coccinellidae - **Genus:** Psyllobora ## Interesting facts - If disturbed, they can "play dead" by retracting their legs and falling to the ground! - Lady beetles got their name from farmers who called them "Our Lady's Beetles" long ago! - Many lady beetles eat aphids, but this one prefers a completely different meal: fungi! - Their larvae look like tiny, spiky, cream-colored caterpillars before they become adult beetles! ## Special abilities - **Mold Muncher:** Western Fairy Lady Beetle can eat powdery mildew because it's a mycophagous insect that helps control plant diseases. - **Chemical Shield:** Western Fairy Lady Beetle has foul-tasting chemicals that help them deter predators when feeling threatened or scared. - **Air Traveler:** Western Fairy Lady Beetle can fly to new feeding grounds using its strong wings, helping them find more mold to eat. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 5-8 mm - **Size:** 2.5-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This beetle loves to munch on tiny fungi, helping keep plants healthy and happy! - **Primary Foods:** powdery mildew, rust fungi, mildew spores, yeast - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Chicory powdery mildew (*Erysiphe cichoracearum*) — eats this mildew on various plants - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — a common bird predator in its range - **Eaten by:** [Cross Orbweaver](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cross-orbweaver) (*Araneus diadematus*) — a spider that can catch them in webs ## 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. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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 be gentle and don't touch them too much. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Fairy 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 Western Fairy Lady Beetle's wingspan? 5-8 mm ### How big is Western Fairy Lady Beetle? 2.5-4 mm ### How long does Western Fairy Lady Beetle live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Western Fairy Lady Beetle fly? 5 km/h ### What does Western Fairy Lady Beetle eat? This beetle loves to munch on tiny fungi, helping keep plants healthy and happy! ### Where is Western Fairy Lady Beetle usually found? Forests ### How does Western Fairy Lady Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-defiance-zoo-and-aquarium) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Holland Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/holland-creek-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park ## 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: [Western Fairy Lady Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fairy-lady-beetle)