Ladybird

We ladybirds are famous for the spots on our elytra, which are our front wings!
The spots are a message: they warn birds and other animals not to eat us, because we taste bad and are poisonous to them! 
In fact, not all ladybirds have spots! In Italy, there are more than 100 species of ladybirds, and we have many different patterns and colours: yellow, red, black, white, brownish…!
Even though we may seem friendly, many of us are great hunters of insects that harm plants. Some of us can even eat up to 100 insects in a day! We’re useful for agriculture and for maintaining the balance of nature. One could say that we’re the friends of gardens. Perhaps that’s why many people say we bring good luck!
Certainly, encountering us is always very fascinating! Now that you know how important we are, look for us among the flowers to discover all our colours!

Focus: The harlequin ladybird: Harmonia axyridis
This colourful ladybird comes from Asia and can threat to our native ladybirds, as it can eat them or steal their food. But it's not its fault: humans brought it here.