What is a ladybird?
Ladybirds are beetles (Order:
Coleoptera) and so possess two characteristics that distinguish
them from insects of other orders:
- hard forewings (elytra)
that cover the abdomen and meet centrally;
- biting mouthparts.
The ladybird family within the beetle group is called
the Coccinellidae. Coccinellids can be recognised by a
number of general features:
- Small to medium sized beetles (1-10 mm or 1/16 - 3/4
inch long)
- Usually round or oval
- Elytra are often brightly coloured and patterned
- Short, clubbed antennae
- Pronotum (structure between the head and the elytra)
is broader than long; extends forward at the margins
and is often patterned
- Short legs that are retractable under the body
- Feet ( tarsi ) that have four segments but the third
is so small that only three are easily visible
You can find out more about ladybird anatomy
by clicking on the following image. The first one is an
annotated image of the underside of a typical ladybird,
and the second shows the upperside.
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