Pssst: Ladybugs Have a Killer Secret

Ladybugs aren’t just cute nursery rhyme stars. Beneath the charming spots and vibrant colors lie killer instincts. They’re effective predators and sometime agricultural allies in their hunger for plant pests like aphids. Entomologist Sara Hermann, Ph.D. is investigating how ladybugs’ “perfume”—the chemical cocktail that makes up their odor—might even become a tool for sustainable agriculture.

Join our host and museum curator Jessica Ware, Ph.D., to find out how the delicate dance of predator-prey interactions in the insect world could help protect our crops and gardens. The series is produced for PBS by the American Museum of Natural History.

#Ladybugs #InsectScience #SustainableAgriculture

Image: iStock/undefined undefined

Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation - Grant No. 2120006

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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And keep up with Insectarium and PBS Terra on:

[pbsterra]

We *love* seeing all the different translations! Got any others? Let us know!

[troygaspard]

The fact that they feast on aphids is more than enough to love them.

[willemvandebeek]

In Dutch Ladybugs are called 'Lieveheersbeestjes', which translates directly to 'Dearlordcritters'. I have been told by Dutch biologist Midas Dekkers that this happened a long time ago, when someone was about to be executed, but this ladybug flew on top of the chopping block and the criminal carefully helped the ladybug off the chopping block, put the ladybug with his hand elsewhere, and then laid his head on the chopping block. The priest, who witnessed this act of kindness, stopped the execution and said the insect was sent by our dear Lord to proof his innocence. The criminal got free and the insect is henceforth known as our "DearLordCritter". :)

[tiffanyb.]

My grandmother used to call them Rose-fairies because they protected her roses. I don’t know how she came about calling them that. But she was delighted they were helping her with her garden, because she didn’t want to use insecticide. 🥰 🐞

[skepticaljohn]

One of my earliest memories is of sitting on a porch and seeing an abundance of ladybug nymphs. Their color and shape as well as their numbers fascinated me. Seventy years later and I am a retired naturalist who has never seen so many nymphs since then. Our insect numbers are declining.

[Lokix]

in Japanese they're called "tentōmushi" which roughly translates to "sun bug" because they believe the beetles fly towards the sun and always try to crawl upwards

[girlygirl]

I gave a lady bug a drink of water once I put a little drop on a piece of wood and it walked up and drank it❤

[hzhang]

since everyone is sharing what they are called in their language; in China they are called "seven star ladle bug", or more lovingly "flower sister". 🐞

[TheChristmasNinja]

This video reminded me of a fact I heard once where releasing wolves into an area reduces the number of deer strikes on cars because the wolves create a "landscape of fear" that makes the deer more cautious. I thought it was really interesting to see the parallel with the ladybird's "smell of fear!"

[vasilismarkandonis]

In Greek their name is "paschalitsa" (πασχαλίτσα), a reference to Easter ("Pascha", "Πάσχα"), probably because there are many of them during the spring when Easter is celebrated

[Ali-bulo]

In Persian they are "Kafshduzak (کفشدوزک)", literally: "little shoe maker"

[kinilas]

Ladybug perfume as a pesticide would be great for ecology as many invasive ladybugs are spread by gardeners who don't know any better

[davis]

Even "Ladybug" in English is a reference to Mary. It is shortened from "Our Lady's Bug."
It comes from traditional stories of people praying for Mary's intercession to save their crops from damaging insects. Ladybugs saved the crops, so they're named after Mary since she sent them.

[nukadahl]

In Greenland they are called: aamanganiaq (the one who want to resemble a glowing coal)

[raphyangel]

I've heard of the Ladybug being called "Scarlet Death" before. A friend I had in middle school was fascinated with Ladybugs, & gave them that nickname after observing how many aphids they consumed on a regular basis.
Whenever I found any ladybugs, I'd coax them onto my hand, then release them onto the rose bush by my house, cuz aphids loved to congregate on it, killing the roses before they could even be pollinated, or sometimes before they could even bloom. After a few months of constantly transporting ladybugs to the rose bush, I found it flourished & thrived a lot better. As a middle school kid, I was so proud of myself for figuring out how to save such a beautiful plant, by feeding beautiful bugs! 😆

[maryhairy]

This certainly is an untouched subject. What a wonderful diverse protection for plants. Use nature against the invaders. Go lady birds!

[RiverWilliamson]

Always happy to learn more about the diverse world of beetles

[fredklier]

In Portuguese, they are called “joaninhas” which means Little John or something of the sort. But we use the feminine article for them, and I have no idea why they call that or why we use the feminine article.

[EntoEric]

Love these mini-documentaries; and loving the comments here, from all over the world, sharing Indigenous words for ladybird beetles, and the cultural histories behind them.

[Albopepper]

Great video. I love those little garden companions! I'm always trying to think how to attract them to my urban garden. Lots of perennial flowers and herbs. Keeps them coming back every season! And then I get free pest control for all those garden veggies!!! 😁 🍅🌶