By Lesley Thomas
Geographic Range
The seven-spotted ladybug is native to parts of western Europe, and has been introduced into much of North America (World Kids Network 1996, Marshall 2000).
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic 
(introduced ); palearctic (native ).
Habitat
The seven-spotted ladybug lives in a wide variety of habitats. Any place where there are plants and aphids may attract this species (Fleming 2000).
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
temperate ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest .
Other:
urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; riparian .
Physical Description
(0.3 in)
The adult seven-spotted lady beetle is relatively large (7-8 mm). The body is oval and dome-shaped, and it has a white or pale spot on either side of the head. The black spot pattern on the body is usually 1-4-2, with either red or orange forewings.
Lady beetle larva can grow up to 7-8 mm in length and are dark with three pairs of prominent legs. Eggs are about 1 mm long and are small and spindle shaped (Weeden, et al 1996).
Some key physical features:
ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: sexes alike.
Reproduction
In the spring, overwintering adults first find food and then lay their eggs. Eggs are laid in clusters of 10 to 50 within aphid colonies. Eggs hatch in three to five days, and larvae feed on aphids or other insects for two to three weeks, then pupate. Adults emerge in seven to ten days (Lyon 2000).
Behavior
Ladybugs are most commonly found from the beginning of spring until the cool sets in fall. When it starts to become cool outside, ladybugs look for sheltered places to live in order to hibernate (Mayo 1998).
Ladybugs can't sting, but they probably do taste bad and produce a bad smelling odor, perhaps by way of a fluid from joints in the legs, which may help to protect them. They also will "play dead" when in danger since many predators will not eat an insect that doesn't move (Fleming 2000).
Food Habits
The seven-spotted lady beetle is carnivorous. Both the adult and larval stages feed on insects harmful to plants, such as aphids and scale insects (Anonymous 1997). Adults can be known to eat up to 100 aphids a day (Arnett Jr., et al 1980). Rather than using any complicated methods for eating its prey, the ladybug kills its prey outright and then devours it (Waldbauer, 1998).
Primary Diet:
carnivore (insectivore ).
Animal Foods:
insects.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
This species hibernates in groups, and sometimes enters houses in large numbers, looking for a place to spend the winter. They don't bite or damage household goods, but can be a nuisance (Bernard 1994, Fleming 2000, Klaas 1998).
Many different species of ladybugs, including the seven-spotted ladybug, have been brought to North America to be used in biological control of pests. The problem is that some of the imported ladybugs are competing with the local ladybugs for food and habitat, and have displaced the natives in many areas. This can reduce ladybug biodiversity and and my damage local ecosystems (CNF Ladybug Survey 2000, Marshall 2000).
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Lady bugs, who eat aphids and other harmful pests such as scale insects, take care of the pest problems in gardens, orchards and farms (CNF Ladybug Survey 2000).
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Not Evaluated.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
We have no text on this topic for this species. Look to the sidebar on the right for some limited information.
Other Comments
Certain species of ladybugs, including this one, were dedicated to the Virgin Mary during the Middle Ages, called "beetles of Our Lady." As time progressed, this name got shortened to ladybird beetles, ladybirds, or ladybugs (Evans and Bellamy, 1996).
Ladybugs are more properly known as lady beetles, because "bug" applies most accurately only to insects in the order Hemiptera.
Contributors
Lesley Thomas (author), Southwestern University.
Stephanie Fabritius (editor), Southwestern University.
