Some factslaps about ladybugs:

• A group of ladybugs is called a “loveliness”
• Not all ladybugs are red: While most people associate ladybugs with their red shell and black spots, they can also be yellow, orange, brown, or even pink.
• They are considered good luck: In many cultures, seeing a ladybug is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity.
• Voracious predators: Ladybugs are beneficial to gardeners because they eat pests like aphids. A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
• They secrete a toxic fluid: When threatened, ladybugs exude a foul-smelling fluid from their legs that can deter predators.
• Ladybugs hibernate: During winter, ladybugs seek out warm places to hibernate in large groups, sometimes thousands at a time.
• They aren’t bugs: Despite their name, ladybugs are not technically bugs. They belong to the beetle family, scientifically known as Coccinellidae.
• There are over 5,000 species: Worldwide, there are over 5,000 species of ladybugs, with about 500 species in North America alone.
• Their spots fade with age: A ladybug’s spots become lighter and less pronounced as it gets older, giving some older ladybugs a washed-out appearance.
• Ladybugs are named after the Virgin Mary: The name “ladybug” is derived from “Our Lady’s bug,” referring to the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition. The red color was associated with her cloak, and the seven spots represented her seven joys and seven sorrows.