We love ladybugs for their bright, cheery colors, the luck they’re supposed to bring, and the fact that they’ll never bite us. Farmers and gardeners also love these little beetles because they keep their plants safe. National Geographic explains: “Most ladybugs voraciously consume plant-eating insects, such as aphids, and in doing so they help to protect crops. Ladybugs lay hundreds of eggs in the colonies of aphids and other plant-eating pests. When they hatch, the ladybug larvae immediately begin to feed.”
Sadly, the native population of ladybugs, like that of bees, is in decline. There are around 5,000 species of the beetles worldwide, and the Lost Ladybug Project is calling on citizen scientists to report any sightings so it can accurately log any U.S. ladybugs. The group’s website reads “Over the past 20 years, native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rare. During this same time, ladybugs from other parts of the world have greatly increased both their numbers and range. This is happening very quickly and we don?t know how, or why, or what impact it will have on ladybug diversity or the role that ladybugs play in keeping plant-feeding insect populations low.” You can join this worthy cause by submitting your ladybug photos to the site, but how about taking things a step further and encouraging the little creatures to move into your very own yard" We’ve put together a list of our four favorite ...