JUNE BUGS: The Lady Bug on Day 163 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!

Let’s have a little fun, a little learning and a little YIKES! today with the LADY BUG:

The Lady Bug

The Lady Bug is often called The Gardener’s Best Friend because of its great appetite to eat garden pests such as aphids, mites, mealybugs and white flies.  Gardeners often purchase containers of Lady Bugs to set free in their gardens… as opposed to using chemical pesticides.

The Lady Bug has a very characteristic *red color, convex-shaped body and distinct dark spots.  Its scientific name is Coccinellidae and is also known as the Lady Beetle, Lady Bird and Mary Beetle.  The name Lady Bird originated in Britain as an honor to The Virgin Mary, who was often depicted in paintings wearing a red robe.  (*It’s interesting to note that the Lady Bug body is also known to be yellow, pink, orange or even black.)

The Lady Bug’s bright color and pattern is nature’s way of discouraging other creatures to prey on it.  But if some creature decides to ignore the warning, the Lady Bug emits a noxious yellow fluid that seeps out of its joints.  The predator then has plenty good experience and reason to avoid that little red bug in the future.  A good YIKES! for the Lady Bug!

The female Lady Bug lays her oval, yellow/orange colored eggs in clusters of up to 50, usually on the undersides of leaves.  When the larvae hatch, they look like little alligators… and set about immediately eating those same garden pests that the adult Lady Bugs like so much. 

Larval Lady Bug

The Lady Bug isn’t the best flier in the insect kingdom, but its transparent sheath-like wings takes it where it wants to go.

During the cold winter months, the Lady Bug goes into hibernation with sometimes thousands of other Lady Bugs, snuggling together in the eaves of homes, in hollowed spaces and any place that keeps them  warm until spring.

Bring your kids and grandkids into the wonderful world of the Lady Bug.  Why not study its life-cycle process… maybe even finding some of those little “alligators”!

Pass along some Lady Bug lore… things like the Lady Bug helps make your wishes come true.
How?  If you have a Lady Bug on your hand and make a wish, whichever direction the Lady Bug flies will show you the direction that your wish-answer will come from.

And how about this one… the Lady Bug understands all languages.  Some Asian cultures believe that Lady Bugs understand all human languages and are blessed by God.

Have some marvelous fun with the Lady Bug!

Join me here each day in June for JUNE BUGS on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids!

 

 

 

 

 


 

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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