By: Sarah Adams
Member of the Big Country Master Gardeners
This month’s bug is the ladybug. Ladybugs are in the Animal Kingdom, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, and the Order Coleoptera. Ladybugs are in the family of Coccinellidae. Perhaps surprisingly, ladybugs are not true bugs but rather they are beetles. However, they have been commonly called “ladybugs” since the early 1800s. Most ladybugs in Texas range from 4 to 8 millimeters (0.16 to 0.3 inches) in length, with some species growing slightly larger. Adult females tend to be slightly larger than males and they are generally oval with domed backs and flattened undersides. They have hardened, non-overlapping forewings, known as elytra, which cover up the more fragile hindwings when the insects are not in flight.
Ladybugs, often seen as harbingers of spring, are not just a springtime sight in Texas; they also make their presence known during the colder months. Unlike many insects that die off or go dormant in winter, ladybugs are one of the few that remain active in cooler weather. The most common ladybug species in Texas, especially during the winter months, is the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis). In addition to Harmonia axyridis, Texas is home to several other species of ladybugs, including: (1) Coccinella septempunctata – the seven-spotted ladybug, which is native to North America and one of the most iconic ladybug species, and (2) Cycloneda sanguinea – the blood-red ladybug. All of these species play important roles in natural pest control, particularly for aphids and other small insect pests.
Ladybugs enter a state known as diapause, a form of dormancy that allows them to survive low temperatures. During diapause, ladybugs significantly slow their metabolism, effectively “shutting down” their normal activity. However, they don’t truly hibernate — they remain alive, but inactive, waiting for temperatures to rise again in the spring. To survive the winter, ladybugs seek shelter in places that offer warmth and protection, such as under tree bark, in cracks or crevices along buildings, and around our homes.
Wizzie Brown, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist, says that if the ladybugs are outside and not bothering you, it is best to just leave them alone. Having them overwinter around your home means that you have a high likelihood of good ladybug populations present when garden pests start emerging in the spring.
Native ladybugs prefer to hibernate outside, but their counterparts, the Asian lady beetle, prefer indoors. Brown suggests sucking them up with a vacuum cleaner and releasing them outside. Brown says that Ladybug invasions are very sporadic; however, if you have had an issue before, it is likely to happen again. So, it is important that you prevent ladybugs from entering your house by using exclusion methods such as caulking cracks and keeping window screens in good repair.
Ladybugs play an important role in the Texas ecosystem year-round, particularly in agriculture. These insects are natural predators of many pests, especially aphids, which are known to damage crops and plants. Gardeners in Texas, especially those engaging in organic gardening, often encourage ladybug populations to thrive as a natural form of pest control. By keeping aphid populations in check, ladybugs help reduce the need for chemical pesticides, benefiting both the environment and the farmers’ bottom line. This natural pest control is one reason why ladybugs are often welcomed in gardens, orchards, and fields across Texas.
While many creatures retreat for the winter, ladybugs remain a part of Texas’s winter landscape, continuing their important role in pest control and providing a splash of color during the colder months. Whether you’re finding them in your home or seeing them cluster outside, these resilient little insects are a reminder that nature adapts in remarkable ways to thrive, no matter the season.
BCMGA offers several education programs each month. There is a program at 6:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the South Library Branch in the Mall of Abilene, and the same program is offered again at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Friday of the month at the Downtown Library. Watch the BCMGA website and Facebook page for the topics and the dates of these monthly programs.
If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at mgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you visit our website at bcmgtx.org for information on all Big Country Master Gardener events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you.
