Summary
Areas of Science
Difficulty
Time Required
Very Long (1+ months)
Material Availability
Ladybugs can be collected from the wild, or purchased from a local nursery or an online vendor such as Carolina Biological Supply Company.
*Note:
For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.
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Abstract
Ladybugs are common insects in North American gardens that prey upon aphids, making them all the rage in biological pest control. Ladybugs can be bred in captivity making them a good insect to study. Just chop off an aphid infested plant stem for food, make a water soaked cotton ball for water, and add to a small plastic container with a lid to make a breeding box. You can use ladybugs collected from the wild, or buy ladybugs from your local nursery. The most common species is the 12-spotted ladybug, but there are also the seven-spotted European ladybug common in Europe and the nine-spotted ladybug common in Southeastern US. Recently, the Asian ladybird beetle has been introduced as an invasive species and competes with native Some species have a constant number of spots, while others have a variable number of spots in the population. You can breed ladybugs to find out if spot number is a heritable trait. You can also investigate the generation time and reproductive biology of ladybugs.Ask an Expert
Do you have specific questions about your science project? Our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.
Global Connections
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
This project explores topics key to Life on Land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
Careers
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
Career Profile
Why is it that certain breeds of cattle produce more flesh or milk? Why is one horse faster than another? The answer is that these breeds were engineered to have these special characteristics. Animal breeders need to understand genetics in order to produce animals that are bigger, faster, or more beautiful. If you are interested in working with animals and are fascinated by the science of genetics, then you should investigate this career.
Career Profile
Ever wondered what wild animals do all day, where a certain species lives, or how to make sure a species doesn't go extinct? Zoologists and wildlife biologists tackle all these questions. They study the behaviors and habitats of wild animals, while also working to maintain healthy populations, both in the wild and in captivity.
Related Links
Cite This Page
General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.MLA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
"Ladybug Spots and Breeding." Science Buddies,
28 July 2017,
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Zoo_p036/zoology/ladybug-spots-and-breeding.
Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
APA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
(2017, July 28).
Ladybug Spots and Breeding.
Retrieved from
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Zoo_p036/zoology/ladybug-spots-and-breeding
Last edit date: 2017-07-28
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