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Little Lucky 7 Spotted Ladybug

  • Writer: HYUN SIM
    HYUN SIM
  • Jan 3
  • 3 min read
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The vibrantly colored Seven Spotted Ladybug (Coccinellidae Septempunctata) is eye-catching despite its small size. Despite what its name suggests, the black spots on the bright red elytra of this species of ladybug can range from 0 to 9 (Biokids). So it is most reliable to recognize it by the vivid red elytra. It has six legs that carry a body and head. The underside of the body is black with lateral lines that separate the bumps. The head is black with a white dot over each eye. Compared to other ladybugs, the seven-spotted ladybug is relatively large and can grow up to 6.5 to 8 mm in length (VCE). Under its elytra are a pair of wings that are around 1.5 times the length of its body.

Its life cycle can be split into 4 stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult (PEEC). When the larvae hatch from the egg, it looks nothing like the adult, it looks like this:

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The larvae stage lasts around a month during which time they feed on large amounts of scale insects, aphids, adelgids, and insect eggs (PEEC). During this time, it molts a total of 4 times before the pupal stage. The pupa looks similar to an armadillo shell and is orange with black spots (PEEC). Similar to the hormones that make a adolescent go through puberty, cells called Histoblasts control the development from a larvae into an adult during the pupa stage (PEEC). The process takes 1-2 weeks until the adult emerges. When it emerges, the elytra is of a pale gray-green color and the exoskeleton is soft (PEEC).

The adults feed on the same food as the larvae with the addition of a primary meal, aphids. It can only fly when the temperature exceeds 55 Fahrenheit. This species mates when winter ends; they hibernate in groups in cracks and crevices and will mate upon waking up. Females lay eggs in groups of 5-50, placed on the underside of leaves to hide them from predators. Laying eggs multiple times a season, a female can lay approximately 1,000 eggs during her lifetime. As some of these eggs are infertile, the fertile eggs will produce larvae that will eat the infertile eggs upon hatching. Climate is a large factor in the lifespan of the 7 spotted ladybug, that can range from weeks to months.

They are found anywhere on the planet with the exceptions of the Arctic and the Antarctic. It can be found in any habitat if there is an abundance or infestation of aphids. Aphids are a pest; they can easily take over and destroy crops en masse. But this is where the 7 Spotted Ladybug becomes a hero as a natural pest control (Earthday). They eat a large number of aphids per day and can easily decimate an infestation.

The 7 Spotted Ladybug is a popular symbol of luck (a popular notion is that a ladybug landing on you is a sign of good luck). This may be due to the association with the lucky number 7. But these superstitions vary, according to the Woodhaven Lakes Association: if the spots are greater than 7, then it's an omen of famine. But what do you think? Would you be lucky to find a 7 Spotted Ladybug?


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