are they all "ladies" or are there male lady bugs?
2006-10-31 04:10:50 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds (Commonwealth English), ladybugs (North American English) or lady beetles (preferred by scientists). The word "lady" in the name is thought to allude to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith. Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 4,500 species described, more than 450 native to North America alone. Coccinellids are small insects, ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm (0.04 to 0.4 inches), and are usually yellow, orange, or red with small black spots on their carapace, with black legs, head and feelers. As the family name suggests, they are usually quite round in shape. Because they are useful, colourful, and harmless to humans, coccinellids are typically considered cute even by people who hate most insects. Some people consider seeing them or having them land on one's body to be a sign of good luck to come, and that killing them presages bad luck.
Coccinellids are brightly coloured to ward away potential predators. This defence works because most predators associate bright colours (especially orange and black or yellow and black) with poison and other unpleasant properties. This phenomenon is called aposematism. In fact, most coccinellids are indeed poisonous to smaller predators, such as lizards and small birds; however, a human would have to eat several hundred coccinellids before feeling any effects. Adult coccinellids are able to reflex-bleed from their leg joints, releasing their oily yellow toxin with a strong repellent smell. This becomes quite obvious when one handles a coccinellid roughly.
Most Coccinellids mate in the spring or summer, and the female lays a cluster of eggs (numbering from a few to a few hundred, depending on species) as near as possible to an aphid colony. In most species these eggs hatch into a larval state within a week. This state lasts 10-15 days, and they then go into a pupal stage before becoming an adult coccinellid. The entire life cycle of the Coccinellid is only 4-7 weeks.
Coccinellids lay extra infertile eggs with the fertile eggs. These appear to provide a backup food source for the larvae when they hatch. The ratio of infertile to fertile eggs increases with scarcity of food at the time of egg laying. (Perry & Roitberg, 2005)
so in short yes there are male and female ladybugs
2006-10-31 04:18:00 · answer #1 · answered by shriharshb 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I like to go for different breeds. For one reason if the same breed people tend to compare the new dog to the old, which is usually unfair to the new one. Now after years of having longer haired breeds, I want the short hair and less shedding. I have had 2 GSDs, Akita/Wolf mix, Samoyed, 2 Chows, Malamute and currently I have 2 Boxers and a Shi-Poo (my wife wanted her own dog).
2016-05-22 17:39:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, of course, that's where 'baby ' ladybugs come from. There are several 'bugs that are called "ladybug" but all are beetles and can vary from red to yellow and spots or no spots.
2006-10-31 04:19:26 · answer #3 · answered by sw-in-gardener 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ooooh I like Elastica! Lady bug refers to all painted up, not gender. Just like not all praying manthis pray
2006-10-31 04:16:34 · answer #4 · answered by T C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ELASTICA has my vote!
Of course there are male and female ladybugs...the males crawl with a swish...
2006-10-31 04:40:05 · answer #5 · answered by auntgnu62 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are all Lesbian Ladies who utilize high tech means in order to procreate.
2006-10-31 04:11:47 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes. they have female and males.
2006-10-31 04:13:45 · answer #7 · answered by killer boot 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋