Convergent Ladybug (Hippodamia convergens)

Artist: Laura Tranquilino

Ecological Importance:

• Elimination of agricultural crop pests

    An important enemy of aphids, scales, thrips, and other soft bodied insects. Ladybugs are often collected from mass aggregations for distribution by pest control industries

•  Savior of trees 

    Ladybugs are predators which eat insects, such as aphids, that destroy forests, due to their adaptation to living in trees. Their larvae often eat twig aphids.

Concerns:

Some native Ladybugs are becoming rare throughout North America over the past 20 years, due to non-native species replacing the natives. At the same time extreme numbers of ladybugs are appearing in other parts of the world. This will impact ladybug diversity, and the roles they play in our plant-feeding insect population. The Lost Ladybug Project in New York, is working to preserve native ladybug species across the U.S by educating, researching and conserving ladybugs.

Fun Facts:

• The female beetle will lay between 10-30 eggs on leaves and plants where their insect prey is abundant.
• During the 1880s ladybugs were brought from Australia to save California's citrus trees. Being a success there are now over 100 species that aid in pest control.

This router is located on the North wall of the BMU.