There are many types of ladybugs, and we can find different types of ladybugs in the garden at any time. We can distinguish them by their color, some are yellow, some are orange or red, and we can also distinguish them by their body shape, some are thin and small, while others are thicker. But the best way to identify them is by the spots on their bodies. Some ladybugs have two spots, some have nine, some have 12, and some have none.
There are about 500 genera and 5,000 species recorded in the world. Nearly 400 species have been recorded in China. Among them, herbivorous species account for about 1/6. Most species of the Coccinellidae subfamily feed on Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Asteraceae, while some feed on Leguminosae, Gramineae, Vitaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Ranunculaceae, Urticaceae, Schisandraceae, and Verpinaceae. Plants of the grass family, Rubiaceae, etc., and a few species feed on ferns (Marinaceae). Some of these species feed on cultivated crops, such as the potato ladybird distributed in the Palearctic and the Solanaceae ladybird distributed in the Indo-Malayan region, which harms potatoes and eggplants; the potato ladybird distributed in the Indo-Malayan region The melon-cleaved ladybird damages melons; the soybean ladybird, which is distributed in the Indo-Malayan region, and the Mexican bean ladybird, which is distributed in North America, damages soybeans. These are important cultivated crop pests. The fungivorous ladybirds in the subfamily Coccinellidae feed on fungi (hyphae and spores of powdery mildew fungi).
In addition, most of the subfamily Coccinellinae and Coccinellidae mainly feed on aphids, and Coccinellinae and Coccinellidae prey on aphids, scale insects, mealy bugs and Lice and spider mites; among them, the mite-eating ladybird family specializes in eating spider mites and is an important natural enemy of spider mites; the subfamily Cryptococcinae preys on aphids and scale insects; the subfamily Coccinellidae preys on scale insects with waxy coverings ( Such as shield scales, wax scales, etc.), the base of their lips extends to both sides and forward, forming a special structure for opening the waxy shell; the four-segmented coccinelloid subfamily and the red coccinelloid subfamily feed on woolly aphids and cotton scales. The back of the larvae is also covered with wax powder or waxy silk, and its appearance is similar to the food object (mimicry). Among predatory ladybugs, Coccinella septempunctata is a common natural enemy of aphids in the Palearctic. China uses it to control cotton aphids through migration assistance and protection methods.
In the past 10 years, Coccinella septempunctata has also appeared in the northeastern United States, and its distribution area has continued to expand. Coccinella axyridis is also a common natural enemy of aphids in the Palearctic. Because of its highly variable color spots, it has been used in genetic research. The Australian lady beetle was introduced to the United States from Oceania in 1888 to prevent the silkworm scale that was seriously damaging citrus at that time. In the second year after release, the population of cottony scales dropped significantly. Subsequently, it was introduced to other tropical and subtropical areas and achieved good results in long-term control of cotton scales, becoming the first famous successful example of introducing natural enemies. Little red ladybugs are native to AsiaIn the south, it was introduced from Japan to the Republic of Seychelles, the Caroline Islands, the Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands in 1928 to prevent the Seychelles cotton scale. This is also one of the successful examples of introducing natural enemies to control pests. China once transplanted red ladybugs to Yidu County, Hubei Province to control cotton scales in citrus orchards, and achieved good results.
In addition, there are two-star ladybugs, four-star ladybugs, six-star ladybugs, double-seven-star ladybugs, nine-star ladybugs, ten-star ladybugs, eleven-star ladybugs, and twelve-star ladybugs. , 13-star ladybug, 14-star ladybug, 28-star ladybug, razor-horned ladybug, scarlet ladybug, red-ringed ladybug, vertical-striped ladybug, six-spotted ladybug, colorful broad shield Ladybugs and more.
