The story for kids
A ladybird! It's a little beetle with a red back and black spots. It eats aphids, tiny insects that hurt the plants. That's why gardeners love ladybirds so much.
Facts
- The ladybird is a little beetle with a red back and black spots.
- It eats aphids — tiny insects that harm plants.
- That is why gardeners love ladybirds.
Numbers
- Size
- 5–8 mm
- Eats
- Aphids
- Wings
- 4 (two are a red shell)
For grown-ups
Ladybirds are predatory beetles: one ladybird can eat thousands of aphids in its life, which is why gardeners use them as natural pest control. The red colour warns birds; when in danger, a ladybird releases a bitter liquid.