Since childhood, each of us has been familiar with the ladybug. This is a red bug with black marks on its back. The points are used to determine the age of the insect. However, this opinion is deeply mistaken, and the number of specks is in no way related to the age of the beetle. How many points does a ladybug have and what exactly does their number mean? The article will be devoted to the answer to this question.
Where did the name of the insect come from?
Before you figure out how many points a ladybug has, it’s interesting to know why the insect was named that way.
It is believed that the colloquial name of the insect is explained by a respectful attitude to it, and in different countries this name is different. In European countries, the insect is called the "bug of the Virgin Mary", "the sun", in Latin America - the "cow of St. Anthony." Most likely, the bug got the nickname “cow” due to its tendency to release “milk” in the event of a threat - a liquid of malicious composition. Well, it’s “divine,” because the nature of the insect is harmless and meek. Its activity in nature is reduced to the destruction of parasites and the conservation of plantings.
How many points a ladybug has and what it depends on, we will try to figure it out.
general characteristics
The size of the beetle is from 4 to 10 mm. The body is round, convex on top. There is a head, pronotum, chest, six legs, abdomen, wings and elytra. On the head there are large eyes and flexible antennae, which allow the insect to feel everything.
The bug is distinguished by its bright color, which serves as a kind of protection against enemies. Its color may be yellow, red, black, blue. There are spots of black, red, yellow, white. Sometimes they merge and form patterns. Some representatives have no spots at all.
How many points a ladybug will have on the back depends on the type of insect, but does not indicate the age of the bug. Often by the pattern on the pronotum you can recognize the floor of the beetle.
Famous species
The family of bugs totals more than 4000 species, united in 7 subfamilies and 360 genera. The most famous varieties:
- Point to point . This is a red bug and two black dots 5 mm long. The color of the pronotum is black, with a yellow border on the sides.
- Seven-point variety. By the name it is clear how many black dots a ladybug of this type has. The most common bug. It has a red color, black dots, a length of 7-8 mm.
- Ladybug with 12 dots. Beetle 6 mm long, pinkish or red, with 6 dots on each elytra.
- The beetle with 13 points has a length of 4-7 mm, red-brown in color, the spots merge.
- Insect with 14 points. Beetle yellow or black with dots of black or yellow color.
- Seventeen-point variety. Beetle 2-4 mm long, yellow or dark yellow. It is found in Europe.
So, now it becomes clearer how many points are on the elytra of ladybugs and how this is explained. It depends on the species of insect.
I wonder how many black dots on the elytra of ladybugs are more common? The most common in nature are red bugs with seven spots. However, the variety of species of these insects is so vast that ladybugs with a minimum number of spots are known - these are two-point ones. Well, the maximum number of points on the elytra of insects is 24.
Interesting Facts
Since ancient times, many stories and legends have been associated with ladybugs.
In ancient times, the insect was considered the messenger of the deity of the sun. With the help of a red bug they even tried to predict weather conditions. If the bug left the palm, it portended a sunny day. If he remained in his hand, this promised bad weather.
In some countries, it is forbidden to destroy these insects so as not to expose themselves to misfortunes.
The drawing of a ladybug was considered a symbol of good luck. It was applied to clothes and jewelry. Such images played the role of talismans and protected their owner from failures.
There are many signs associated with the insect. For example, it is impossible to drive away a ladybug that has arrived, in no case, so as not to frighten away the fortune. A cow who flew into the house brings harmony and happiness to the family with her appearance. The appearance of a bug promises the birth of a baby to childless families. If you count how many black dots on the elytra of ladybugs, you can determine how many happy months are expected next year.
Every year, bugs fly for the winter, and they choose the same places. Scientists to this day can not solve this phenomenon. After all, the life of insects is short, and new offspring of bugs fly for the winter. How they manage to fly to the same lands is unknown.
Larvae of insects are cannibals and eat their relatives, which have not yet hatched.