We like to get a real tree for Christmas every year, the lovely smell of the pine really adds to the festive feeling! Sometimes we get more than we expected… a few years ago we found a beautiful nest in the tree; this year we found an unexpected visitor… a cute little ladybird.
Here are ten facts about the ladybird that you may not have known…
- There are about 5000 different species of ladybird in the world
- Considered a great friend to the farmer and gardener because it eats crop harming aphids, a ladybird can eat up to 5000 insects in its lifetime (an adult may consume 50 aphids a day)
- The name ladybird makes reference to “Our Lady” as European farmers in the Middle Ages thought they were sent by The Virgin Mary in response to their prayers to eradicate an infestation of aphids that were consuming their crops
- Ladybirds can be found in many colours, not just red and orange and they can have stripes or other patterns rather than just spots
- A ladybird’s bright colouring warns potential predators that it may be toxic; as a defense tactic they can secrete a foul tasting yellow oil from joints in their legs
- A ladybird stays in flight by beating its wings 80 to 90 times a second
- A female will lay at least 2000 eggs in their lifetime – the larvae hatch within days and start eating immediately
- Females lay unfertilised eggs as well, these are thought to act as a back up food source for the larvae if normal food supplies are unavailable
- Geckos are not the only ones with super hairs on their bodies that allow their gravity defying feats, scientists have recently investigated the molecular structure of ladybird hairs in the hope of one day reproducing their amazing abilities for human purpose
- The Harlequin ladybird has invaded Ireland and is a big threat to our 15 native species. Bigger, hungrier and a potential predator this species could really impact the number of ladybirds in this Country.