Defense Tactics

The bright colours warn predators for the bitter taste of this beetle. Besides their warning colours ladybugs have other defense tactics: when in danger they often let themselves fall and stop moving as if they were dead. Also they can excrete a biting, smelly substance when disturbed.

Usefulness in a garden

The ladybug is very useful to gardeners as aphids are the favourite food of both adult beetles and their larvae.

Most likely the Ladybug earned a favorable reputation from its usefulness in a garden. Ladybugs are very beneficial insects that eat all kinds of bad bugs like aphids. Live Ladybugs can be ordered for gardens for this purpose. Accordingly, many of the Ladybug's good luck propensities may have been extrapolated from its desirability to farmers and, therefore, food and prosperity.