Ladybug on Sage

Photo ~ Courtesy Tosh

Did you know ladybugs come in many colors, including pink?  That, faced with danger, they do reflex bleeding (actually releasing of a little blood which is yellow and smells bad)?  That the ladybug is really a beetle, not a bug..and legend is it was named after a time in the Middle Ages when Catholic farmers were faced with a great bug infestation which was ruining their crops and they believed the beetle arrived in response to their prayers to the Blessed Virgin.

More interesting notes, all info courtesy http://www.ladybuglady.com/LadybugsFAQ.htm:

• Because Ladybugs eat lots of aphids and other pest insects, many gardeners and farmers use them for pest control instead of chemicals.
• A Ladybug can lay up to 1000 eggs in its lifetime.
• Not all Ladybugs have spots.
• Ladybugs will clean themselves after a meal.
• Ladybugs come in many colors like pink, yellow, white, orange and black.
• Over 300 types of Ladybugs live in North America.
• Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes bad so predators won’t eat them. 
• Ladybugs hibernate in large groups in cold weather.
• Many countries consider a ladybug to be a sign of good luck.
• Ladybugs are actually beetles, so sometimes are called LadyBeetles.
• The bright colors of Ladybugs warn birds that they don’t taste good.
• The spots on a Ladybug fade as they get older.