Adult Ladybug
Ladybug Metamorphosis Defies Evolution
by Owen Borville
July 10, 2020
Biology
The ladybug is a unique creature that defies evolution. Its unique hemisphere-shaped body and bright colors, its complex wing system, and its metamorphosis from larvae to adult ladybug are the product of a unique design by an Intelligent Designer. The ladybug is classified with the beatles, has six short legs, and wings that fold outward and inward. The body extends only 0.3 to 0.4 inches. The body colors are commonly bright red, orange, or yellow with dark spots or stripes, but many different colors and patterns can be seen in the many varieties of ladybugs. The ladybug has a black head with white patches on either side. Ladybug antennae are used for taste and smell. The ladybug larvae has a completely different shaped body that transforms into the hemisphere-shaped ladybug that we are familiar with. The ladybug opens its outer protective shell where its wings are underneath. Design is apparent in the ladybug.
The ladybug is an omnivore, eating many insects, including those that are plant-eating pests, a welcome to farmers and gardeners. The ladybug lives in a variety of environments and is native to Europe, where it is called a ladybird. The ladybug was introduced to North America to control the aphid pest on crops, which the ladybug likes to eat. A ladybug may eat 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, along with mites and other plant-eating pests. Ladybugs hibernate in the winter. Today, ladybugs are found on every continent except Antarctica. When aphids begin to disappear, the ladybugs somehow know that winter is approaching and head for hibernation in their original homes. Somehow, the ladybug finds its original home to hibernate. Ladybugs also mate before entering hibernation.
Defense Mechanisms
When threatened by predators, the ladybug can release an oily fluid from joints in its legs that tastes unpleasant. Their color also warns predators of their foul taste. Ladybugs gather together in large groups to increase the foul smell and color presence to warn predators. Sometimes ladybugs will play dead by pulling its legs up and releasing a small amount of blood from their legs and a bad smell that will deter predators. Common predators are birds, frogs, wasps, spiders, and dragonflies.
Ladybug Metamorphosis Cycle
The ladybug has a four stage life cycle where a different body form appears in each stage: Egg, Larvae, Pupa, and Adult Ladybug.
In the first stage, ladybugs lay their yellow-colored eggs on the underside of a leaf, from which larvae emerge. Somehow, the ladybug knows to deposit her eggs in aphid colonies where the emergent larvae will have food to eat. The larvae feed on aphids and any insects that it can find. Scientists also believe that the ladybug lays both fertile and infertile eggs, where the new larvae will feed on the infertile eggs when aphids or food is in short supply. Amazing design.
The larvae represent the second stage. The larvae break out of the eggs within about a week and are long and black with bristles and with bright colored spots. The larvae have six legs and a long, pointy tail. Some say the larvae look like a tiny alligator or lizard. The larvae eat aphids while they grow, along with other plant-damaging insects. As they grow, they molt or shed their outer skin several times.
After the larvae grow, they attach to a leaf and form or transform into a pupa, a more rounded shape and the third stage of the life cycle. The pupa is usually orange or yellow in color with black markings. The pupa will remain still and attached to the leaf for more than a week. The body is transformed during this time from the larvae form into the adult form.
The ladybug will transform from the pupa stage and form its outer shell and wings, the fourth stage in the life cycle. The outer shell or exoskeleton will be soft initially, but will harden and change from a pale, yellow color to the bolder, brighter colors of the adult. The adults will continue to feed on insects and eventually mate before hibernation. This amazing transformation could only be the product of design by an Intelligent Designer.
by Owen Borville
July 10, 2020
Biology
The ladybug is a unique creature that defies evolution. Its unique hemisphere-shaped body and bright colors, its complex wing system, and its metamorphosis from larvae to adult ladybug are the product of a unique design by an Intelligent Designer. The ladybug is classified with the beatles, has six short legs, and wings that fold outward and inward. The body extends only 0.3 to 0.4 inches. The body colors are commonly bright red, orange, or yellow with dark spots or stripes, but many different colors and patterns can be seen in the many varieties of ladybugs. The ladybug has a black head with white patches on either side. Ladybug antennae are used for taste and smell. The ladybug larvae has a completely different shaped body that transforms into the hemisphere-shaped ladybug that we are familiar with. The ladybug opens its outer protective shell where its wings are underneath. Design is apparent in the ladybug.
The ladybug is an omnivore, eating many insects, including those that are plant-eating pests, a welcome to farmers and gardeners. The ladybug lives in a variety of environments and is native to Europe, where it is called a ladybird. The ladybug was introduced to North America to control the aphid pest on crops, which the ladybug likes to eat. A ladybug may eat 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, along with mites and other plant-eating pests. Ladybugs hibernate in the winter. Today, ladybugs are found on every continent except Antarctica. When aphids begin to disappear, the ladybugs somehow know that winter is approaching and head for hibernation in their original homes. Somehow, the ladybug finds its original home to hibernate. Ladybugs also mate before entering hibernation.
Defense Mechanisms
When threatened by predators, the ladybug can release an oily fluid from joints in its legs that tastes unpleasant. Their color also warns predators of their foul taste. Ladybugs gather together in large groups to increase the foul smell and color presence to warn predators. Sometimes ladybugs will play dead by pulling its legs up and releasing a small amount of blood from their legs and a bad smell that will deter predators. Common predators are birds, frogs, wasps, spiders, and dragonflies.
Ladybug Metamorphosis Cycle
The ladybug has a four stage life cycle where a different body form appears in each stage: Egg, Larvae, Pupa, and Adult Ladybug.
In the first stage, ladybugs lay their yellow-colored eggs on the underside of a leaf, from which larvae emerge. Somehow, the ladybug knows to deposit her eggs in aphid colonies where the emergent larvae will have food to eat. The larvae feed on aphids and any insects that it can find. Scientists also believe that the ladybug lays both fertile and infertile eggs, where the new larvae will feed on the infertile eggs when aphids or food is in short supply. Amazing design.
The larvae represent the second stage. The larvae break out of the eggs within about a week and are long and black with bristles and with bright colored spots. The larvae have six legs and a long, pointy tail. Some say the larvae look like a tiny alligator or lizard. The larvae eat aphids while they grow, along with other plant-damaging insects. As they grow, they molt or shed their outer skin several times.
After the larvae grow, they attach to a leaf and form or transform into a pupa, a more rounded shape and the third stage of the life cycle. The pupa is usually orange or yellow in color with black markings. The pupa will remain still and attached to the leaf for more than a week. The body is transformed during this time from the larvae form into the adult form.
The ladybug will transform from the pupa stage and form its outer shell and wings, the fourth stage in the life cycle. The outer shell or exoskeleton will be soft initially, but will harden and change from a pale, yellow color to the bolder, brighter colors of the adult. The adults will continue to feed on insects and eventually mate before hibernation. This amazing transformation could only be the product of design by an Intelligent Designer.
Ladybug larvae stage
Ladybug Pupa Stage
