Page 9 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Surprising predators

Ladybirds Welcomed by gardeners,

ladybirds are a natural
pest control
Small in stature but with mighty appetites,
these little beetles are expert hunters

There are 50 species of ladybird in the UK, easily
recognisable as friendly garden visitors with bright
wing cases and adorable spots. But these little
critters have a surprising appetite! From the moment
it hatches, a ladybird is hungry, and aphids are the
name of the game.
Their predatory habits come in very handy –
ladybirds are loved by gardeners for their intense
appetite for these pests. Aphids are tiny little insects
that suck fluids from plants – they reproduce very
quickly and can stunt plant growth, especially
irritating for growing fruit and vegetables. An adult
ladybird can munch down as many as 50 aphids per
day – ladybird larvae are almost as ravenous – and
one study even purported that in a lifetime, a ladybird
can eat 5,000 of these little pests, making them a
welcome addition to any well-tended patch!
In terms of hunting, ladybirds are relentless in their
predatory approach. Aphids are usually found in
groups on stems or on the undersides of leaves on
species like tomato plants or marigolds. The ladybird
will simply cruise along and crunch through all prey
in their path. Using their strong mandibles to catch
and chew, the ladybird doesn’t have too much of a
hunting strategy – it’s more of a ‘have food, will eat’
type of situation.

Even as larvae, ladybirds
are on the hunt for an
aphid meal

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