NATURE
An Up-Close Look at Ladybugs
These sweet-looking predators can help protect your garden from harmful insects
Most people around the world would recognize these bright red insects with black dots. There are many species of ladybugs and most of them are colorful. Some, like above, are bright red. Some are black with red dots. Others are various shades of yellow and orange.
I’m lucky enough to live and work in an area where we see ladybugs regularly. I recently noticed that, this time of year, I can observe them in various stages of their life cycle. It’s been fascinating to learn about these insects.
The milkweed plants in our pollinator garden are infested with oleander aphids. We see a lot of ladybugs in and around the garden because they eat the aphids and other garden pests. They’re useful insects to have around!
If you live near a wild area or have a garden with milkweed, take a close look at some of the plants. From a distance, a cluster of ladybug eggs looks like an orange dot on the edge of a leaf.
