Ladybugs may be the cutest insects around, but they don't start off that way. Also called lady beetles or ladybirds, they pop out of their eggs as prickly mini-monsters with an insatiable hunger for aphids. Once they've bulked up, they transform, shedding their terrifying looks, but keeping their killer vibes.

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DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.

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The ladybug is the most beloved insect in the world. With their round candy-apple red body and polka-dot markings, the ladybug is a symbol of springtime and a welcome ally in the garden.

After mating, a single female ladybug will lay dozens of bright golden-yellow eggs right next to her offspring’s future prey.

Four to eight days later, the eggs hatch and the spiky little larvae crawl free. They look like miniature alligators, and they have the temperament to match.

Ladybugs are aphid-eating machines, devouring dozens of the sap-sucking insects in a single day.

--- Do ladybugs bite people?
Ladybugs are capable of biting people using their jaw-like mandibles, but they tend not to. If a ladybug feels threatened, it will typically “bleed” a foul-smelling liquid called hemolymph as a deterrent.

--- Should I buy ladybugs from the store for my garden?
It’s better to welcome wild ladybugs into your garden rather than purchase them. One reason is that the ladybugs available at garden centers are typically taken from their natural habitat while they are hibernating during winter months, which means fewer ladybugs in the wild. Plus, ladybugs sold in stores are typically eager to migrate and don’t stay long in your garden.

--- Why do ladybugs have spots?
Many ladybugs have bright, contrasting colors to warn potential predators that they taste terrible. This is known as aposematic coloration. Ladybugs’ hemolymph “blood” contains a cocktail of toxic chemicals including alkaloids. Predators quickly learn that a ladybug’s conspicuous coloration means they aren’t good to eat.


---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:

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---+ For more information:
Ladybugs are Good for Your Garden, The Real Dirt Blog, written by UC Master Gardeners of Butte County
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---+ More Great Deep Look episodes:

The Ladybug Love-In: A Valentine's Special | Deep Look
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Born Pregnant: Aphids Invade with an Onslaught of Clones | Deep Look
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Citrus Psyllids Bribe Ants With Strings Of Candy Poop | Deep Look
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