Massachusetts State Insect
Ladybug (common name) Adalia bipunctata (scientific name) Overview There are over 1,600 species of the very small, colorful, flying beetles called ladybugs (also called the ladybird beetle or ladybird). The two-spotted ladybug was officially designated the state insect of Massachusetts in 1974. It is a popular choice as a state insect, and other states have adopted related species as well: the convergent ladybug is the state insect of Ohio; Delaware, New Hampshire, and Tennessee designated the seven-spotted ladybug in 1974, 1977 and 1975, respectively; and New York designated the nine-spotted ladybug in 1989. The ladybug has a black head, red body, and distinctive black spots on its back. The bug has a yellow–tipped head, a red elytra (the protective wings that cover the flight wings), short legs, and short antennae. The insect’s unusual coloration and spots are designed to ward off potential predators like spiders and birds. A favorite insect around the world, particularly with children, the ladybug is just as popular as the butterfly mainly because of its attractive coloration, its benefit to farmers and gardeners, and its endearing shape resembling tiny little hemispheric domes. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Wingspan: 0.15–0.27 inches (0.4–0.7 cm) Total Length:  0.3–0.4 inches (0.76–1.0 cm) Larvae:  Alligator-shaped and covered in tiny bristles. LIFESPAN 1–2 years HABITAT Diverse habitats including meadows, gardens, and farms. Range: Worldwide Flight period: Fly in huge swarms in winter to hibernate. Conservation status: Although not listed as threatened, the ladybug population is declining in North America and its range is narrowing.  BEHAVIOR These colorful carnivorous beetles will walk, climb, or fly when foraging. They inhabit all areas where temperatures are warm or mild. In harsh winters, they gather in large numbers and hibernate under rocks, under piles of leaves, or in the cracks of trees. When threatened, they will roll over and play dead since most predators look for live prey. DIET Adults: Aphids and other small, soft-bodied larvae and insects Larvae: Aphids, insect eggs, and pollen TRIVIA A second-grade class in Franklin, Massachusetts, campaigned to make the lady bug the state’s official insect. The children’s parents petitioned their state senator to draft a bill and attended the public hearing on the resolution at the State House in Boston dressed in brightly colored ladybug costumes. When the bill passed the legislature, the governor invited the class to attend the official signing of the bill into law. A predator attack triggers a "reflex bleeding" in which the insect secretes a foul-smelling fluid alkaloid toxin through the joints in its outer skeleton, making it unappetizing prey. Ladybugs are loved by farmers because they voraciously feed on plant-eating pests such as aphids. Each ladybug, on average, consumes at least 5,000 aphids by the time it is 5–6 weeks old.
	Click to enlarge an image Ladybug Trio of Ladybugs Feeding Ladybug Eating Aphids Ladybug Deploying Wings CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae Genus: Adalia Species: A. bipunctata
	Author: World Trade Press