"To an English farmer, a ladybug signals a good harvest. In a French vineyard, a ladybug is a sign of good weather. A ladybug walking on the hand of a Swedish girl is said to be measuring it for wedding gloves and in Canada, ladybugs wintering in your garage mean good luck." - Canadian Entomological Society.

A ladybug is a small insect that can be identified by its arched body and brightly patterned covering. They can range from a deep red to an orange shade in coloration. The majority of larvae and adults are predators, eating scale insects and aphids. Despite their compact bodies and small size, the ladybug has an average of 70 to 90 wingbeats per second. For defense, ladybugs squirt blood from special places between the femur and tibia. Colored droplets appear at "knee" joints. This blood is charged with defensive substances that smell or taste bad to an attacker, or are poisonous or corrosive. Ladybugs have been considered a symbol of good luck and fortune in times past. Because of their ability to eat an enormous supply of aphids, ladybugs were believed to be sent from heaven to save crops. Aphids were destroying crops and the ladybugs came in and saved them. They have been known to eat as much as 500 aphids a day.

In the 1880's, ladybugs were brought over from Australia in an attempt to save orange trees in California from pests that were destroying them. Since this time, over 100 species of ladybugs have been sent over to North America. With such an over abundance of ladybugs, their biodiveristy has been damaged. They are overcrowding each other and there is high competition for food sources.

You are most likely to see ladybugs from the time that it begins to get warm outside in the spring until cool sets in the fall. When cooler weather arrives is the time when you may begin to see ladybugs in your house and garage. They are looking for a place to hibernate. Your home provides the perfect spot. It has been said that ladybugs have a tendency to travel to homes that are of a lighter color on the outside, however, they can be found in just about any home. You do not need to be alarmed if you home is bombarded by the friendly ladybugs. They have proven to be no threat to you or the area in which they inhabit. If you are searching for ladybugs, the best place to look is near ants. They ants suck sweet honeydew from aphids and therefore, where there are ants, there must be aphids. Where there are aphids, there are more likely to be ladybugs. You may also want to look under old wrinkled leaves. More likely than not, the leaves are wrinkled because they have an infestation of aphids.

As fall is approaching, you may begin to notice an influx of ladybugs into your home. Remember that the ladybugs are harmless to you. Observe and enjoy these magnificent insects. You never know, they may be stopping by to wish you a little bit of luck or pass some good fortune along your way!