Garden Tenders: Ladybugs, Ladybugs, pretty little bugs

Five Little Ladybugs

Five little ladybugs resting at the door.

One flew away and then there were four.

Ladybug, ladybug happy all day.
Ladybug, ladybug fly fly away.

Four little ladybugs sitting in a tree.

One flew away and then there were three.

Ladybug, ladybug happy all day.

Ladybug, ladybug fly fly away.

Three little ladybugs looking at you.

One flew away and then there were two.

Ladybug, ladybug happy all day.

Ladybug, ladybug fly fly away.

Two little ladybugs sitting in the sun.

One flew away and then there was one.

Ladybug, ladybug happy all day.
Ladybug, ladybug fly fly away.

One little ladybug left all alone.

One flew away and then there was none.

Yep, this week we learned about Ladybugs. It was prompted by a ladybug release our homeschool group did in a local park. Ladybugs are beloved by us all though.

You can buy ladybugs yourself and release them as well in your garden. They are amazing little creatures and I plan to buy some when Bear's cousins are visiting and allow the girls to release them together in the garden. Check your local nursery's. Locally you can check Windmill Nursery in Sumner, WA, Marlene's Health Market in Tacoma, or the Home and Garden section at Fred Meyers. I would also contact any more reputable nursery near your home, odds are they will have them. They are good garden bugs, so don't worry. (From a friend--Release them at dusk for better retention in your yard).

Our lessons have included coloring ladybug pictures, reading Ladybug girl goes to the beach (a book we got from the library) and talking about things that make lady bugs so amazing, like the fact that they have sticky legs! Sarah tried to include that information at the homeschool group but she got so excited I think all she said was "Ladybugs have legs!" Funny girl!

Some of the facts we learned about lady bugs this week:

Ladybugs are related to beetles. Beetles and ladybugs are insects.

Ladybugs are considered good luck.

Ladybugs come in many colors--yellow, orange, pink, and red. Some ladybugs are black with red spots. Some have no spots at all.

Birds don't eat ladybugs because their bright colors are a warning that they don't taste good.

Ladybugs use their feet to smell. Do you use your feet to smell?

Ladybugs have sticky feet too. Do you ever have sticky feet?

Ladybugs like to form large groups, like families. It helps to keep them warm, according to scientists.

Ladybugs experience four stages of growth. --Like other insects, ladybugs will go through four stages. They are egg, larva, pupa and adult ladybug.

Ladybugs can fly about 15 miles per hour. --The highest speed of most ladybugs is about 15 miles per hour. That is much slower than other insects. (Some dragonflies can fly 60 miles per hour).

Ladybugs hibernate. -- During the winter, when it is very cold, ladybugs will hibernate. That means they rest until it gets warmer.

A female/girl ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime.

Aphids are a ladybug's favorite food.

Here (Ladybug Fact Sheet) is a fact sheet I put together for future use. Feel free to download and print for your own personal use.

After we released the ladybugs our homeschool group ate lunch, played in the park and went on a nice walk around the lake were we seen baby ducks. The learning continues the rest of the week with looking at our own garden bugs and exploring books and learning sounds, using a magnetic alphabet set as help/guides.