For today’s post, we thought we’d take a little break from the doom and gloom of the growing bedbug epidemic and talk about ladybugs. Just about everyone loves them, and they’re so pretty to look at, but do you know much about them? Here are three fun facts you might not have known before.
Fact #1: Ladybugs keep your garden healthy – That’s right! If you have plants in your office, or a growing flower garden, don’t try to get rid of the ladybugs you see there. They actually get rid of the insects you don’t want, so in a way, they are nature’s own pest control specialists.
Fact #2: Ladybugs can bleed from their knees – This is probably a defense mechanism, but ladybugs have hemolymph, which is a fluid in their knees that seeps out when they get startled. It can make them appear to be sickly, and it smells terrible.
Fact #3: Ladybugs can become cannibalistic – A hungry ladybug isn’t likely to wait long for a meal. They eat a lot of insects; as many as 50 aphids a day! So, when a ladybug is hungry, there’s no hesitation when it comes to eating a weaker or younger ladybug who can’t defend itself.
Ladybugs really are cute, and it’s great that they’re so good for your garden and plants. However, there are plenty more insects out there that aren’t. If any of them are bugging you, contact us today!
