Why are ladybugs orange now, when I was a kid they were bright red?

Question

They bite or pinch, too.

No, I live in the same general area.

Answer 1

Japaneese lady beetles or asian lady beetles are more orange.
They have been brought in to control aphids on crops in the US.
You see more of these now than the ladybug.

Answer 2

Ladybugs come in different colors. The conditions favoring one color phase over another are variable, and evolutionary factors also come into play. Many creatures can't see colors other than red, so in a grey world, a red ladybug might stand out to predators who eat ladybugs, whereas an orange ladybug would just look grey. This would reduce the number of red ladybugs until they were very scarce, and hence less valuable as a main food source. Predators would turn their attention to finding more available food and perhaps give the red color phase a chance to rebuild its numbers. Also, climate differences might favor one phase over another, not because of the color, but because of some color-gene-linked attribute. The higher humidity along a coastal area might promote a delicate plant enjoyed by some variety of insect favored by the red ladybug larvae, whereas in areas where this plant was unable to grow and support the favored prey, other insects preferred by orange or yellow ladybugs might attract greater populations of those phases.
Have you moved since you were a kid?

Answer 3

As several people have mentioned, there are different species of ladybird beetle, and they have different colours and often different spot patterns.

Within the species, though, there is also considerable colour variation. I have seen seven-spotted ladybird beetles (Cocinella punctata) that were blood red, orangey-red, orange, even yellowish in colour - although they were all the same species. It might be due to genetic variation within the species, and there may also be environmental factors that influence the colour variations. Perhaps different temperatures as the beetles develop, or different nutrient levels as the larvae are feeding can result in differences in colour in the adults.

I suspect that local temperatures could have a marked effect on colour expression, and that perhaps during a particularily warm summer, the beetles could mostly appear to be more orange than in cool years.

And yes, the beetles will bite. Different species are more or less aggressive than others. The Asian species that many have mentioned above seems to be remarkably aggressive, and bites without provocation and often. The common seven-spotted ladybird (a European import that is replacing native species over much of North America) is not as aggressive, but will definitely still bite at seemingly random provocation. I've had them wandering across my hand for several minutes when they suddenly decide to chomp down for no discernible reason.

Answer 4

What you may think is a ladybug is some type of beetle (Asian?). They bite hard and stink when you crush one. I used my shop vac to get rid of them since there were so many. They were in this area (Mn.) for the last 2-3 years but this year they're not so bad. As far as I know ladybugs are still red.

Answer 5

The lady bugs that are very common to bite are the Japanesse variety. They were released here in North America to be used as a biological control for aphids in domestic gardens.
They are typically brighter in color than the native species and are much more agressive. A few years ago, you used to be able to buy them by the hundreds to release into your gardens, the reasearchers thought that the winters would kill them, but they found a way to survive. They are the ones commonly found overwintering in window cills.
They are actually very good competitors for space and resources against the native species and through competitve exclusion are reducing their numbers.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/37866

So, the colors are related to different species, some of our native species are also orange colored, but they dont bite, only the asian or japanesse ladybugs will bite.

I hope this helps!

Answer 6

There are still red ones, the orange are a diffrent speices. There are several diffrent speices of ladybugs, I believe the orange ones are origanly from Japan. Watch out the orange ones bite for some reason.

Answer 7

I can see ladybugs even now in many colors not just red or orange

Answer 8

The orange ones came from China relatively recently. If you spend a lot of time outside, you will still be able to find the red ones.
Those orange ones try to get in your house when the weather gets cold, that's why you see them a lot.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

Ladybugs are different colors: yellow, red, orange-etc-check out the wedsite below.