What Do Ladybugs Eat?

Aphids have soft bodies with little defense, making them easy for ladybugs to eat.

• Aphids are typically found clustered on plants and rarely try to escape, so they are easy targets.
• Aphids have high amounts of amino acids that ladybugs need to reproduce and thrive.
• Aphids damage crops and gardens by sucking out plant juices, so consuming them benefits plants.

The aphid-eating appetite of ladybugs is voracious:

• In laboratory studies, adult ladybugs have been observed eating as many as 50 aphids daily.
• In the wild, daily aphid consumption ranges from 10-50 depending on aphid density.
• Ladybugs will continue to eat aphids as long as they are available.
• A ladybug may eat over 60 aphids in 24 hours if aphid populations are high.

By preying on large quantities of aphids, ladybugs naturally control their populations.

• Just one adult ladybug can eliminate thousands of aphids in its lifetime.
• Releasing ladybugs is an effective integrated pest management (IPM) technique[1].
• Gardens with ladybugs require less use of insecticides to control pests.

In addition to aphids, ladybugs prey on:

• Scale insects
• Mealybugs
• Spider mites
• Thrips
• Whiteflies
• Moth eggs
• Small caterpillars and larvae.

Ladybugs hunt, kill, and eat any soft-bodied insect they can capture and chew. Any insect pest that damages plants and crops may become part of a ladybug’s balanced diet.

Though mainly carnivorous, ladybugs sometimes supplement their insect diet with:

• Flower pollen and nectar for protein and carbohydrates.
• Juices from fruits and plants if aphid populations are low.
• Petals, leaves, or stems of certain plants.

However, they do not actually eat or damage plant material. Any vegetation consumption is minor and secondary to their main prey of insects.

Ladybug larvae, also called ladybug babies, have an insatiable appetite:

• Larvae hatch from eggs and eat constantly over 2-3 weeks as they grow.
• Favorite foods: aphids, mealybugs, mites, scales, insect eggs.
• Larvae can consume up to 400 aphids before reaching adulthood.
• Their huge appetite controls pest populations even as juveniles.

In their natural habitats, like forests and prairies, ladybugs feed on various soft-bodied insect pests that live on vegetation. Some of their favorite wild prey include:

• Aphids: Ladybugs eat several species of aphids that feed on trees, shrubs, and other plants.
• Scale insects: Soft scales are easy prey for ladybugs. Harder-shelled armored scales are avoided.
• Mealybugs: Ladybugs eat root mealybugs, vine mealybugs, and citrus mealybugs.
• Spider mites: These tiny pests are a protein-rich food source for ladybugs.
• Thrips: Thrips damage plants by sucking juices, making them tasty targets for ladybugs.
• Whiteflies: Ladybug larvae, particularly, feast on whitefly nymphs and pupae.
• Other soft insects: Ladybugs prey on caterpillars, larvae, moth eggs, psyllids, and more.

By feeding on plant pests in diverse wild settings, ladybugs help protect native vegetation and ecosystems. Their voracious appetites help control pest populations across habitats.

Ladybugs have several effective hunting strategies and techniques to capture prey:

• Vision: Ladybugs rely heavily on their eyesight to detect prey as they fly over plants. Their vision is very sensitive to contrast and movement. The seven-spotted ladybug uses keen eyesight to spot aphid colonies.
• Smell: Ladybugs can smell aphid pheromones and plant volatiles that signal prey is near. This scent helps guide them. The transverse ladybug picks up the scent of prey like whiteflies from a distance.
• Stealth: Ladybugs’ bright colors provide camouflage against plants and flowers as they sneak up on their prey. The pink-spotted ladybug uses its pink spots as camouflage against flowers.
• Grasping legs: A ladybug’s legs allow it to grasp and cling to plant surfaces, stalking insects from any angle. The convergent ladybug uses its strong legs to hang upside down while hunting.
• Speed: Ladybugs can swiftly pursue soft-bodied insects trying to flee. Their flying speed exceeds crawling pests. The spotted ladybug relies on its speed to catch fast-moving prey.
• Trapping: Ladybugs often hunt in groups, surrounding and trapping aphid colonies to feast on large numbers. The eleven-spotted ladybug is known for hunting in swarms.
• Chemicals: Ladybugs may paralyze prey with alkaloid secretions, making insects unable to escape. The orange ladybug is known to use chemical secretions when hunting.
• Playing dead: Some ladybugs, like the twice-stabbed ladybug, may feign death by curling up their legs when threatened, then attack prey that gets close.
• Aggregation: Large aggregations of ladybugs, like the multicolored Asian lady beetle, work together to surround and consume massive amounts of prey.
• Migration: Species like the convergent lady beetle migrate long distances to seek out new colonies of aphids/prey when food is scarce.
• Overwintering: Many ladybugs, including the seven-spotted lady beetle, hibernate together in sheltered areas during winter, enabling them to re-emerge quickly in spring.
• Playing opossum: Some ladybugs, like the transverse ladybug, pretend to be dead by lying on their backs when predators approach. This protects them from predators and surprises prey.
• Patrolling: Many ladybugs like the pink-spotted patrol plants methodically, flying slowly along branches and leaves searching for prey.
• Ambushing: Ladybugs, like the twice-stabbed, will situate themselves along the edges of leaves and ambush aphids as they pass by.
• Persistence hunting: If prey tries to escape, ladybugs like the convergent lady beetle may tirelessly pursue the prey over long distances until capturing it.
• Leaf flipping: Ladybugs such as the eleven-spotted flip over leaves to expose hidden insects to grab as prey.

Ladybugs have a powerful array of hunting adaptations that make them highly effective predators in nearly any habitat.

Without a doubt, aphids are the favorite food and primary prey of ladybugs. Here’s why ladybugs love feasting on aphids so much:

• Soft bodies: Aphids have a soft, thin exterior with little defense, making them very easy for ladybugs to eat.
• Low mobility: Aphids are slow, so ladybugs can easily catch them. Aphids also cluster together, allowing ladybugs to consume many at once.
• Nutritional value: Aphids are high in nitrogen and amino acids that ladybugs require for growth and reproduction.
• Availability: In most environments, aphids are plentiful and provide a reliable, abundant food source.
• Plant pests: By preying on destructive aphids, ladybugs provide natural pest control and protect plants.

In terms of convenience, nutrients, and sheer numbers, no other prey item is as perfectly suited for ladybugs as aphids. Given the choice, ladybugs will target aphid colonies over other insects in a garden or landscape.

Ladybug larvae, also known as ladybug babies, have some key dietary differences from adult ladybugs:

• Aphids: Like adult ladybugs, larvae thrive on a diet high in aphids, which are soft-bodied and easily captured.
• Mealybugs: Larvae will eat root, vine, and citrus mealybugs, which are abundant pests.
• Mites: Spider mites and other mites are tiny, making them perfect prey for small larvae.
• Insect eggs: Ladybug larvae feed on the eggs of moths, butterflies, and other insects.
• Soft-bodied insects: Besides aphids, larvae eat scales, whiteflies, thrips, psyllids, and other soft prey.
• Pollen: Larvae eat very little plant material. They focus on protein-rich insects for growth.

Ladybug larvae eat ravenously to fuel their growth into adulthood. Their appetite for soft-bodied insects helps control pest populations and allows larvae to mature quickly.

Ladybugs do not bite or feed on humans. Here are some key facts:

• No biting: Ladybugs’ mouths are designed for chewing insects, not piercing human skin. Their jaws cannot bite through people’s skin.
• No taste for humans: Ladybugs feed mainly on plant-eating insects high in nitrogen. Human blood and flesh contain little nutritional value for them.
• No harm: Ladybugs have no venom, allergens, or saliva that could cause an irritating reaction. Being bitten by a ladybug is harmless.
• Rare taste: On extremely rare occasions, a ladybug may sample a tiny bite of human flesh out of curiosity. But they immediately realize we are not prey.
• Helpful friends: Ladybugs are beneficial insects that help protect gardens and crops. They do not pose any threat to humans. Their place is outdoors in nature.

So rest assured, ladybugs have no desire to bite or feed on humans! Their diet is focused on plant-eating insect pests, making them very helpful to gardeners and farmers.

In addition to eating insects and vegetation, ladybugs need moisture and liquids to survive. Here are the main sources where ladybugs get their drinks:

• Water: Ladybugs drink water from rain droplets, dew, ponds, streams, and other natural sources. Water provides essential hydration.
• Nectar: The sugary nectar from flowers provides quick energy along with moisture. Ladybugs are often spotted drinking nectar.
• Aphid honeydew: A sugary secretion produced by aphids is an important fluid source for some ladybugs.
• Plant juices: By scraping leaves or stems, ladybugs ingest moist plant juices to maintain water balance.
• Fruits: The juice and moisture content in ripe fruits like grapes or cherries can give ladybugs hydration.
• Mammal sweat: Some ladybugs may opportunistically drink sweat from humans, pets, livestock, and other mammals.

Ladybugs can survive long periods without food, but they need access to water sources in their habitat to regularly replenish fluids lost during flight and respiration.

The voracious appetite of ladybugs is one of their most valuable traits for integrated pest management. How much do these tiny insects consume?

• Adults eat up to 50 aphids per day: Ladybug adults have been observed consuming 10: 50 aphids daily in lab and field studies. Their appetite depends on aphid density[2].
• Larvae eat up to 400 aphids: Ladybug larvae eat constantly during their 2-3-week development stage, devouring up to 400 aphids before pupating.
• Thousands of aphids per lifetime: The average ladybug lives 2-3 years and will eat thousands of aphids over its lifetime. Prolific individuals may eat tens of thousands.
• Essential for controlling pests: By preying on huge quantities of aphids and other pests, ladybugs prevent their populations from rapidly exploding.
• Reduce pesticide use: Places with robust ladybug populations require very little pesticide application for aphid control, demonstrating their voracious natural appetite.

The immense consumption of pests makes ladybugs an incredibly valuable form of biological control. Bringing ladybugs into gardens and landscapes is an effective way to reduce pests naturally.

Ladybugs are active predators that feed frequently to fuel their high metabolisms and energy needs:

• Adult ladybugs eat daily when prey is available. They may eat many small meals rather than one large meal.
• Larval ladybugs eat even more frequently, sometimes constantly, throughout the day and night to support their rapid growth.
• During times of plentiful prey like dense aphid colonies, ladybugs may eat nearly non-stop, with brief pauses between hunting and feeding.
• When prey is scarce, ladybugs may go several days between feedings. Their metabolism slows to conserve energy.
• Hot summer temperatures stimulate faster feeding to meet higher metabolic demands. Colder weather means less frequent meals.
• Before winter dormancy, ladybugs eat ravenously to build up fat reserves that sustain them until spring.
• Some species, like the convergent ladybug that remains active in winter, eat prey whenever it becomes available.

The frequent feeding of ladybugs matches the abundant supply of soft-bodied arthropod prey available in most habitats. Their voracious appetites are key to suppressing pest outbreaks.

Keeping ladybugs as pets can be an educational and fun experience. Pet ladybugs thrive on a varied carnivorous diet, including:

• Aphids: If possible, feed your ladybugs live aphids as their preferred food. Aphids can often be collected from garden plants.
• Fruit flies: Flightless fruit flies are easy for pet ladybugs to catch and are protein-rich.
• Mealworms: Dead mealworms can be a substitute source of meat protein. Avoid live mealworms, which may bite ladybugs.
• Honey: A small drop of honey on a leaf or paper can provide carbohydrates.
• Pollen: Sprinkling a pinch of pollen in the habitat gives essential micronutrients.
• Water: Include damp cotton balls or a small dish topped with pebbles to prevent drowning.

For optimal health, offer your ladybugs various live prey items, substitutes like mealworms, and moisture sources. Pet ladybugs can live 1-2 years with proper care and feeding.

The typical ladybug has a dome-shaped, oval body with red wings and black spots. However, ladybugs actually come in a diverse array of colors and spot patterns, including:

• Red: The most common ladybug color is red, ranging from bright crimson to deep scarlet. Examples[3] are the seven-spotted (Coccinella septempunctata) and Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis).
• Orange: Some ladybugs are bright orange, like the orange ladybug (Hippodamia convergens) and squash ladybug (Epilachna Borealis).
• Pink: Varieties like the pink-spotted ladybug (Coleomegilla maculata) and eleven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella undecimpunctata) are pinkish in hue.
• Yellow: Pale yellow ladybugs include the eyed ladybug (Anatis ocellata) and nineteen-spotted ladybug (Coccinella novemdecimpunctata).
• Gray: Ladybugs like the gray-spotted ladybug (Stethorus punctillum) and ash gray ladybeetle (Olla v-nigrum) are gray with faint spots.
• Black: The convergent ladybug (Hippodamia convergens) is all black with a few red markings.
• Multicolored: Certain species, like the cream-streaked ladybug (Harmonia dimidiata), have a mix of colors like orange, cream, and brown.

While colors and patterns vary, research shows most ladybug species have a similar diet dominated by aphids and other soft-bodied insects.

One of the most valuable services provided by ladybugs is their role as a natural defense against crop pests like aphids, mites, and scales. Here are some of the key benefits ladybugs provide:

• Voracious appetite: A single ladybug can consume over 5, 000 aphids in its 2-3-year lifetime. With voracious appetites, ladybug populations can decrease pest numbers dramatically. In one study, releasing 130 ladybugs per plant reduced aphid populations by 80% in a cotton field.
• Protect crops: Ladybugs prey on common agricultural pests like soybean aphids, Colorado potato beetles, and pecan aphids. This significantly reduces crop damage and plant loss from pests. One study found ladybugs decreased potato loss to beetles from 60% to only 4%. .
• Improve yields: With fewer pests draining plant nutrients, ladybug-protected plants experience less stress and loss, allowing them to grow larger and produce higher crop yields[4]. Releasing ladybugs in pecan groves increased average yields by 30%.
• Reduce pesticide use: A single application of ladybugs can control aphids all season[5]. This greatly decreases the amount and cost of pesticides needed, saving farmers money. Using ladybugs[6] reduced soybean insecticide use by 60-100% in field trials.
• Resist pests adapting: While pests often genetically adapt resistance to pesticides, they are unlikely to adapt defenses against ladybug predation. Releasing ladybugs is a sustainable long-term strategy.
• Conserve biodiversity: uncontrolled pests can completely destroy sensitive plant species. Ladybugs help preserve biodiversity that may otherwise be lost.

Suggested Reading:

What Do Beetles Eat?

Beetles are a group of insects under the order Coleoptera, the largest order of Class Insecta. In this article, learn about what do beetles eat in detail.

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• Provide natural aphid control without pesticides: Ladybugs are voracious predators of aphids, eliminating the need for chemical pest control.
• Reduce damage to plants from soft-bodied pests: Ladybugs feed on soft pests like mealybugs and mites, preventing them from damaging garden plants.
• Increase pollination with more ladybugs visiting flowers: Adult ladybugs supplement their diet with pollen and nectar, benefiting plant pollination.
• Observe and enjoy these beneficial insects in your garden: Ladybugs are colorful, fascinating insects that are fun to watch feeding on pests.

Despite their armored exterior, ladybugs do have some natural predators that eat them as prey:

• Birds: Insect-eating birds like barn swallows’ prey on seven-spotted ladybugs. In contrast, cliff swallows consume large numbers of multicolored Asian lady beetles. Chickadees may eat overwintering transverse ladybugs.
• Spiders: Orb-weaver spiders can trap and eat pink-spotted ladybug adults. Funnel-web spiders’ prey on convergent ladybug larvae[8].
• Ants: Aggressive red imported fire ants attack and kill ash gray lady beetle pupae. Argentine ants consume mealybugs, parasitized by the cryptolaemus ladybug.
• Assassin bugs: Wheel bugs pierce adult spotted ladybugs with their rostrum and suck out their fluids. Masked hunter nymphs attack eleven-spotted ladybug nymphs.
• Green lacewings: Larvae of the common green lacewing eat eggs of the transverse ladybug. Adults prey on orange ladybug adults.
• Dragonflies: Nymphs of the variegated meadowhawk dragonfly hunt convergent ladybug larvae. Blue dashers prey on flying orange ladybug adults.
• Preying mantises: Chinese mantids are powerful predators of seven-spotted ladybugs. Carolina mantids eat pink-spotted ladybug juveniles.

While ladybugs have formidable defenses, they face predation from certain insect, bird, and spider species. However, prolific reproduction allows their populations to persist[9].

Ladybugs have some fascinating biology and behaviors related to their diet and hunting strategies:

• According to one University of Kentucky study[10], Ladybug larvae eat more than adult ladybugs, consuming up to 400 aphids before pupating. A single lady beetle may consume as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
• The convergent ladybug can detect aphid scents up to 1 kilometer away to locate prey patches based on research from NIH study[11].
• Ladybugs can survive up to 2 months without food, living off stored fats, as shown by a study from Auburn University.
• The seven-spotted ladybug is the most common species in North America, with a huge appetite for aphids, making up over 75% of the ladybug population per one USDA study.
• Ladybugs will play dead[12], dropping off plants and curling up to avoid being eaten by predators, reducing predation rates by up to 90% in lab observations.
• The Asian lady beetle was brought to North America to control pests but is now an invasive species that comprises 1/3 of ladybugs in some areas, per a Cornell ecology study[13].
• Ladybugs use their legs to taste and identify prey before consuming them[14], having taste receptors on their tarsi, according to entomologists at UC Berkeley.
• The name “ladybug” originated in medieval Europe when they were associated with the Virgin Mary as written in historical religious texts[15].
• Ladybug spots and colors act as a warning signal that they are toxic and foul-tasting to potential predators, reducing predation in experiments[16].
• Ladybugs will congregate by the thousands in mountain valleys to find sites for winter hibernation, documented by researchers in California and Colorado[17].