I saw a Ladybug

I noticed a Ladybug in my bathroom the other day.

I decided to research my lovely lady and this is what I found:

All about the body
Insects have three main body parts. They include the head, thorax and abdomen.

Insects have 6 jointed legsThe legs of a ladybug are segmented.

Ladybugs have two (2) pairs of wings. exoskeleton elytra. Underneath the elytra are another pair of wings, the flying wings.

The antennae of the ladybug are incredible. The antennae are equipped with sensory organs. Ladybugs must keep the antennae clean. The ladybug uses its legs for this job. Ladybugs, also, have a second pair of sensory organs that look like another smaller pair of antennae. These are called palps.

Recent technological advances show that ladybugs have two compound eyes. The eyes are multi-faceted, and deemed simple rather than complex. At this point, studies are not clear on the complexity of information processed by the ladybug eye. The eyes were previously termed photoreceptors, which was understood to process only light and dark images. They don't see colors, only shadows.

Beetles exhibit bilateral symmetry.

Ladybugs reproduce sexually. Each species of ladybug has its own pheromones for attracting a mate. Ladybugs tend to lay their eggs where food is abundant. Learn more about ladybug reproduction.

A few FAQ's
Q. How did the ladybug get its name?

A. In Europe, during the Middle Ages, insects were destroying the crops, so the Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon the Ladybugs came, ate the plant-destroying pests and saved the crops! The farmers began calling the ladybugs "The Beetles of Our Lady", and they eventually became known as "Lady Beetles"! The red wings represented the Virgin's cloak and the black spots represented her joys and sorrows. They didn't differentiate between males and females.

Q. Are all ladybugs girls?

A. No. There are boy ladybugs and girl ladybugs. It's almost impossible for the average person to tell them apart. But here is clue that might help, Females are usually larger than males.

Q. What are boy ladybugs called?

A. Boy ladybugs are called ladybugs, too.

Q. Are there different kinds of ladybugs?

A. Yes. There are hundreds of different kinds all over the world. There are about 500 different kinds in the United States and nearly 5000 world wide. They come in all different colors, too. Reds, yellows, orange, gray, black, brown and even pink.

Q. Do the spots tell you how old they are?

A. No. Different ladybugs have different numbers of spots. Some have no spots while some have as many as twenty four. Ladybugs generally complete their life cycle within one year. The spots are with them all their life. They don't get more spots as they get older, nor do they lose spots.

Q. What are the life cycle stages of a ladybug?

A. Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult. The first three stages vary from 7-21 days each depending on the weather, and food supplies. The adult stage lasts between 3-9 months depending on weather, length of hibernation, food supplies and, of course, predators.

Q. It is almost spring, why are ladybugs coming back into my house?

A. They have probably been hibernating under the sliding of the house or apartment and the warmer temperatures have caused them to emerge- it's just that they are going in the wrong direction. You would think that they would be trying to get out of the house, but they are coming in. It happens. This happens because of the variation in temperatures from the interior of the home verses the outside temperatures. The ladybugs are merely confused.

Q. Once the ladybugs are in my house, will they eat anything?

A. No. Ladybugs don't eat fabric, plants, paper or any other household items. They like to eat APHIDS. Aphids are very small, but very destructive pest that feed on plants. (If you have rose bushes, you have probably seen aphids.) Ladybugs, while trying to hibernate in your house, live off of their own body fats. They, also, prefer a little humidity. But our homes are usually not very humid during the winter. In fact, they are rather dry causing most of your ladybug guests to die from dehydration. Occasionally, you might witness a ladybug in your bathroom getting a drink of water. Now, that's a smart lady!

Q. How can I get them out of my house?

A. If you don't have a lot, just leave them. They will leave when spring arrives. Disturbing them will only cause them to stress out leaving yellow markings on your walls. The yellow stuff, you see, is not waste matter, but rather, their blood. Ladybugs release a small amount of their blood which is yellow and smells, when they sense danger. Some people have said that it does stain on light colored surfaces.

information courtesy of :
http://www.ladybuglady.com/
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I have heard it is good luck to have a ladybug in your house so I will keep her here.
I have had a few other sightings of her. I saw her in the living room on the window and in the kitchen. And last night I saw her on our roll top desk

Stay tuned for more ladybug sightings.