Ladybugs typically defend themselves against predators by releasing odorous, yellow blood from their legs. The chemical smells and tastes so bad that predators will not eat the bugs, which also may play dead to avoid being attacked. Ladybugs' bright colors serve to warn predators to stay away. Create a project to test this common knowledge by observing how ladybugs defend themselves. Confine ladybugs in a closed container with other predators -- such as frogs, dragonflies or ants -- and record their reactions.
Farmers value ladybugs because they consume plant-eating insects. One ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. Set up a project to determine whether ladybugs affect plant growth. Plant a bed of vegetables in a garden with no ladybugs. Plant another batch of vegetables in a separate garden, and include ladybugs. Release them at night in irrigated soil so they do not fly away. Do not use insecticides. Determine which garden grows faster and produces larger vegetables.
More than 5,000 species of ladybugs exist worldwide, and more than 500 species exist in the U.S. The coloring of different species, not limited to red, includes pink, yellow, white, orange and black. Ladybugs can reproduce only with members of their own species. Examine the socialization patterns of various ladybug species. Congregate two or more species of ladybugs within a container, such as an aquarium. Observe whether the ladybugs mingle or segregate themselves according to species.
During cold weather ladybugs gather to diapause. Diapause is the insect equivalent of hibernation. Diapause provides an opportunity for males and females to reproduce. Females lay tiny, golden eggs which eventually develop into larvae. If adult ladybugs are affected by cold weather, perhaps larvae are also impacted. Experiment with larvae to see whether cold temperatures hinder their development. Order ladybug larvae online. Divide the larvae, placing one group into a warm area and the other into a cool area. Observe whether the larvae grow at the same rate or whether one group grows faster.