Ladybugs have relatively long life spans compared to many insects. The go through their remarkable transformation from egg to larvae to pupa to adult in about one month, but they can live for a couple of years as an adult. Thus they have to adapt to all the seasons of the year.
Have you ever wondered where ladybugs go in the winter?
Insects are cold-blooded. This means their bodies are roughly the same temperature as their surroundings. And when the temperature drops below freezing it can be deadly for insects unless they can find a way to adjust.
Ladybugs usually survive the cold by hibernating. When the temperature drops their body functions slow down and they go to sleep, not to wake again until it gets warmer. But they also seek shelter to reduce their exposure to the cold. They often hide under bark or leaves or find crevices in trees or rock. And they like to gather in clusters for additional protection. These ladybug clusters can consist of just a few ladybugs or thousands of them. How they find each other and what determines the size and location of a cluster are interesting questions. Scientists have studied this behavior and come to . some interesting conclusions.
Click here to read their conclusions.
Ladybug also can survive the cold winter by inviting themselves into homes. While a few ladybug guests can be a pleasant surprise, a few thousand at a time can be a little much. If you want to rid yourself of these uninvited guests you may want to try these
non-toxic ladybug removal methods. A nice way to store a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water to help with the de-ladybugging process is in a
Mollie Ladybug Spray Bottle,
