Size: Length : 0.5 - 10mm

Identification: Round usually red or orange with black markings.

Most species of ladybird (and their larvae) in South Africa are carnivorous and therefore play an important role in the biological control of other insects. Ladybirds can consume several times their own body weight in pests each day. However, due to the fact that some species of ladybirds are herbivorous, not all ladybirds are considered beneficial.

Ladybird larvae are usually small and black with yellow or white markings, often having spikes.

Ladybirds are sensitive to changes in their environment and have therefore been proposed as suitable ecological indicators for studying environmental change.

The name “ladybird” or “ladybug” has been argued to be derived from “Lady Mary’s bug”, referring to the Virgin Mary who was often depicted wearing red. The black dots on a ladybird have been said to represent the 7 joys and 7 sorrows of Lady Mary. It was not uncommon for creatures to be awarded names with a sacred association in Elizabethan times. Ladybirds have also been considered a symbol of good fortune in some cultures.