Ladybird
Tiny but mighty garden heroes.
Who am I?
The Ladybird, a tiny titan of pest control, reigns supreme in the garden kingdom. These scarlet-shelled warriors are the bane of the Aphid's existence, gobbling them up with gusto and keeping those sap-sucking pests from wreaking havoc on our precious plants like Nettle or Wild Marjoram. While the Marmalade Hoverfly larva also enjoys a good aphid buffet, the Ladybird brings a certain panache to the process, a flamboyant flair for the dramatic demise of its prey.
But don't think the Ladybird is just a ruthless killer! This polka-dotted powerhouse is also a welcome snack for some, forming a small part of the diet of our avian friends such as the Swift. This constant interplay of predator and prey keeps the whole ecosystem buzzing!
Ladybirds to the rescue (aphids, beware…)
The name ‘ladybird’ is a shortened version of the name coined for them in the medieval period: ‘Our Lady’s bird’. They started to be called this after farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary to save their crops from aphids, and ladybirds came to the rescue.
Both ladybirds and their larvae specialize in eating aphids, making them a tried and tested alternative to chemical pesticides. The striking red-with-black-spots coloring of our main species, the seven-spotted ladybird, is designed to warn potential predators not to eat them: when threatened, they release a toxic and stinking liquid from their knees!
Ladybirds also use scent to hunt, following the smell of signal or semiochemicals released by bacteria found in aphid guts and honeydew, and by plants in response to being eaten by aphids. It’s like the plants are also praying for help, and the ladybird hears and rescues them as they did those medieval farmers!
Miles Irving
Foraging Expert
2
Broods per year
Up to 2000
Aphids eaten
2-18 mm
Size range
Find out more
I crawl across the plants of this wildflower wall, hunting aphids to keep the habitat healthy and thriving.
Did You KnowDid you know
Click here to find out a fun fact about the Ladybird
More Species
Get to know more species local to the wall.
