Spring is here, and people are thinking about . . . INSECTS (among other things, such as gardening and love). I took a photo of a ladybug on some plants near the harbor the other day, and I have to admit, I was so deeply into the conversation at hand that I wasn't thinking that it was the first ladybug I'd noticed this year! Most of us like ladybugs for one reason or another. Whatever your affiliation is with ladybugs, you might be interested in purchasing a plastic ladybug as part of a school project, table decor at an event, to add pizazz to a wrapped package, as an educational toy, or as part of your insect or animal collection.This engaging, realistic, plastic ladybug is made of hard durable plastic, though it is somewhat flexible. It is 1 1/2 inches long and 1 1/8 inches wide. It makes a good replica in a shoe box diorama or for any school project. It is also an excellent party favor. Check out our other ladybug toys and gifts. We have some attractive ladybug earrings, too!
The ladybug is general term of a family of beetles, Coccinellidae, with over 5000 species. In some parts of the world they are called ladybirds or lady beetles or even ladybird beetles. They are small, about 3/8 inch and are generally orange,scarlet or yellow with black spots on their wing covers. This bright coloration acts as a defense mechanism against predators, who associate it with toxicity or acrid odor. In fact, the ladybug secretes an oily yellowish substance from its leg joints when roughly handled. The ladybug is a useful insect since it eats garden pests such as aphids, mites, and mealybugs. It is fun to find them and watch them crawl about, but sometimes they can be a household pest as well. I have seen them hatch by the hundreds.