Asian Lady Beetle: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Beetles and Friends · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. Its colours vary a lot. It can be orange or red with anywhere from 0 to 22 black spots, or black with two or four red marks.
2. In North America it is nicknamed the Halloween beetle, because it often moves into homes in October to spend the winter.
3. To pick a winter shelter, it looks for pale buildings that stand out, and follows chemical traces left by earlier groups.
4. Most ladybirds stick to insects, but this one also nibbles fruit such as grapes and raspberries.
5. Its blood holds a germ-fighting chemical called harmonine, which helps it resist diseases that strike other ladybirds.

The quiz

1. How many black spots can the common orange form have?

• Always exactly 7
• Anywhere from 0 to 22 (correct)
• Always more than 50
• Never any spots

The orange or red form has 0 to 22 black spots.

2. Why is it called the Halloween beetle in North America?

• It glows orange at night
• It only flies at night
• It moves into homes in October (correct)
• It hatches on 31 October

It often enters homes in October to overwinter.

3. What helps it find a good winter shelter?

• Pale buildings and traces left by earlier groups (correct)
• The sound of running water
• The smell of snow
• Following migrating birds

It uses light-coloured buildings and chemicals left by earlier groups.

4. Besides insects, what else does this ladybird eat?

• Tree bark
• Dry leaves
• Seeds of pine trees
• Grapes and raspberries (correct)

It also feeds on fruit like grapes and raspberries, which is unusual for a ladybird.

5. What does harmonine in its blood help it do?

• Change colour
• Resist diseases (correct)
• Glow in the dark
• Fly faster

Harmonine fights bacteria and helps it resist diseases.

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