Photo from last spring in my garden
How many times have you seen a ladybug? Do they make you smile like they do me? I have lots of memories of lady bugs from my growing up years and now in my own garden, I love to find them crawling around on my plants.
The Handbook of Nature Study has information on the ladybird (lady bug) on pages 364-366. On page 364 there are illustrations of the larva, pupa, and adult of the lady bug.
From the Handbook of Nature Study, page 366:
"The ladybird is a beetle. Its young are very different from the adult in appearance, and feed upon plant lice."
"These little beetles are very common in autumn and may be brought to the schoolroom and passed around in vials for the children to observe. Their larvae may be found on almost any plant infested with plant lice. Plant and all may be brought into the school room and the actions of the larvae noted by the pupils during recess."
Page 366 also has ten observations you can perform on either the adult or the larvae of the lady bug.
From page 365:
"From our standpoint the ladybird is of great value, for during the larval as well as adult stages, all species except one feed upon those insects which we are glad to be rid of."
"The ladybird is a clever little creature, even if it does look like a pill, and if you disturb it, it will fold up its legs and drop as if dead, playing possum in a most deceptive manner."
We enjoyed learning more about this common garden friend.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
