The Ladybird or God's gift
Is it really necessary to present this insect ? Every gardener is familiar with this little creature with speckled elytrons, which preys on greenfly.
The ladybird with 7 spots or Coccinella septempuntata is a beetle belonging to the Coccinellidae family which includes over 5,000 species. The species with 7 spots on its red elytrons is the most common in Europe.
Ladybirds emerge in spring from their hibernation at the foot of plants, hidden under leaves, under moss, or even in a secluded part of the garage. They reproduce and lay several hundreds of eggs, which the female places beside a colony of greenfly.
After a week or so, small black larvae appear an start to devour large quantities of greenfly. One larva will eat up to 200 greenflies a day. They then transform into nymphs, before becoming adults in the summer. The larva of the ladybird is thus of great help to the gardener who wishes to get rid of ravagers in the garden and in the house, without resorting to pesticides. Children also get great pleasure in observing them.