Orange bugs on your windows? It’s spring

By Leah Staudt | Manor Ink

Often insects are not very well liked or appreciated. But one insect in particular is loved and welcomed by many people, and that’s ladybugs. A lot of people see ladybugs as cute, harmless and helpful bugs. Most of the reasons they are viewed as charming is because ladybugs are often seen as symbols of good luck and good fortune.

There are certain times, however, when ladybugs aren’t found to be such a lovable insect. Those times are often in the winter, during their period of their hibernation. Ladybugs usually over-winter under rocks, or in tree bark, clumping together in large groups to stay warm. Although they often like to stay outdoors, there are times when they hibernate inside our homes. They can often be seen gathering on windows on sunny days in the early spring when the light is bright. Finding them inside makes some people view them as more of a problem than a beneficial insect. This is not only because of their large groups, but also because of the bad odor that some ladybugs emit when disturbed.

Ladybugs have very distinct features and appearances. Normally, their hardened outerwing colors consist of red, orange, yellow and black with bodies that are small and oval shaped. In addition to those colors, ladybugs also have black spots. These spots have a specific role in defending them by showing predators that they are toxic and do not taste good.

Gardens, forests, grasslands and agricultural fields are home habitats to over 5,000 species of ladybugs. You can find ladybugs on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. They are very active in spring and fall. Their diet consists of aphids, mites and scale insects, and they can eat up to thousands of aphids throughout their lives, which can last up to three years. Ladybugs are very interesting creatures that are loved by many people.