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Ladybug Lantern™ Kit

Fascinating Ladybug Facts!

Some Basic Information
• Her scientific name is Hippodamia convergens.
• She really isn’t a ladybug, rather a ladybird beetle.
• There are over 600 different kinds of ladybugs.
• She is one of the most common beneficial insects.
• Instead of using pesticides, some farmers use
ladybugs to eat the bad bugs in their fields.
• Ladybugs can be found from southern Canada to
South America.
• Ladybugs can be white, yellow, pink, orange, red & black.

the ladybugs’ Lifecycle
• Ladybugs lay their eggs one week after mating.
• Eggs are laid near aphids so the larvae have food to eat.
• She can lay 50 eggs in a day and 1000 in her lifetime.
• The lifecycle of a ladybug (egg to adult) takes
approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
• She looks like a small alligator in her larval stage.
• After she’s born, her spots take 12 hours to appear.
• Ladybugs go through one generation per year.
• Ladybugs hibernate during the Winter.

Adult Ladybug Facts
• She can eat up to 5,000 aphids in her lifetime.
• She can secrete an odor to warn off predators.
• Ladybugs can have up to 13 spots on their backs.
• Ladybugs have two pairs of wings.
• A ladybug uses her hind wings for flying.
• Ladybugs clean themselves after eating.
• Ladybugs have six legs.
• In the wild, a ladybug can live up to a year.




Dr. Entomology Suggests:

Your Ladybug Lantern Includes:
• The Ladybug Lantern observation habitat.
• A certificate to mail for 75 - 100 live ladybugs.
• This instruction guide with fun ladybug facts.

A fun way to keep one of Nature’s
friendliest insects - The Ladybird Beetle !

 Getting Started
Before mailing the ladybug certificate, make sure you are ready to receive the live ladybugs. Please allow for any school breaks, holidays, or extended weekends that may interrupt the project. Write your name and address on the certificate and mail it to the address listed. Please allow 1 - 3 weeks for delivery.

PLEASE NOTE:
Live Ladybugs are in limited supply from March through May. If we receive your Ladybug Certificate when live ladybugs are unavailable, WE ARE FORCED TO HOLD YOUR CERTIFICATE UNTIL WE RECEIVE A NEW SUPPLY OF LADYBUGS! This is usually only a problem in late February through early June. To check on ladybug availability year-round, visit our web page at
http://www.insectlore .com/ladybugs

 When Your Ladybugs Arrive
Your ladybugs are mailed in a cardboard box that you will need to open immediately. Inside is a container with 75-100 live ladybugs. Put your cup of ladybugs into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will cause the ladybugs to slow down and will ensure a minimal amount of potential escapees during transfer into the Ladybug Lantern. This will not hurt your ladybugs.

Preparing The Ladybug Lantern For Ladybugs
Before putting the ladybugs into the Lantern, you must prepare their food and water. Get between 10 and 15 raisins. Soak them in water for about 5 minutes. Blot them dry on a paper towel. Now cut them in half and spread them throughout the floor of the Lantern. This should keep your ladybugs fed for a very long time. If you have plant leaves with aphids on them, you can put these into the Lantern. Ladybugs love to eat aphids.

NOTE: DO NOT PUT ANY PLANT LEAVES INTO THE LANTERN THAT HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH INSECTICIDES. YOUR LADYBUGS WILL CERTAINLY DIE IF EXPOSED TO POISON. IF YOU’RE NOT SURE IF THE LEAVES HAVE POISON ON THEM, PLEASE DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE LANTERN.

Now take a small piece of facial tissue. Get it wet, then squeeze a few drops of water into the floor of the Lantern. This will give the ladybugs something to drink!

 Placing Ladybugs Into The Ladybug Lantern
After 30 minutes in the refrigerator, take the ladybug cup out, but LEAVE THE LID ON! Unzip the top of the Lantern. Gently tap on the lid of the cup to disLantern any ladybugs that may be on the underside of the lid. Before the cup warms up, open the lid then lower the cup into the Lantern. Tip the cup upside down, releasing the ladybugs onto the floor of the Lantern. Quickly remove the cup, then reinsert your hand and remove the straw and the cotton wick. If you don’t get all the straw out, it’s OK. Now close the zipper on the Lantern. If a few ladybugs escape during transfer, try to put them back into the Lantern one at a time.

Feeding and Watering Tips
The raisins should feed your ladybugs for a long time. Keep your eye on the raisins. If and when they disappear, put a few more raisins in as before. Make sure to water with one or two drops of water every day. If you see that water remains in the base of the Lantern, do not water until it has dried up.

Releasing Your Ladybugs
Take the Lantern outdoors, unzip it, and let your ladybugs fly. If you want your ladybugs to stay in your garden, the morning is the best time to release them there. Make sure the temperatures are above 55 degrees before releasing. During Winter, keep them in the Lantern for their lifespan.




Questions & Answers

How long does it take for my ladybugs to arrive?
When our ladybugs are in stock, expect 1 to 3 weeks for delivery. Insect Lore cannot ship ladybugs from March through May.

Why can’t I get ladybugs from March through May?
Our ladybugs are collected during overwintering months. In March, April and May the ladybugs leave these areas to mate and feed. We really don’t want to bother them during this time and wait until their vacation is over, in June.

How long will my ladybugs live?
If you keep them in the Lantern, approximately 2 to 3 weeks. In the wild, they can live up to a year.

If I have a dead ladybug in the Lantern, what should I do?
We suggest leaving her in the Lantern until you release all of the live ladybugs. If you try to remove a dead ladybug, the live ladybugs may escape.

How long should I keep the ladybugs in the Lantern?
We suggest releasing them after one week. Make sure temperatures are above 55º before releasing. If it is Winter, keep you ladybugs inside the Lantern for their entire life span.

Can I hold a ladybug?
Yes. Be careful when opening the Lantern. You don’t want too many escapees!

What are the spots I see on the inside of the windows?
This is a bit of the fluid they naturally exude. This sticky, stinky fluid comes from their feet, making them taste bad to their enemies.

How often should I water and feed the ladybugs?
Make sure you have at least 10 raisins cut in half when first putting your ladybugs into the Lantern. This should keep them fed for a week. If the raisins disappear, cut some more and put them in. Water your ladybugs daily. (See feeding instructions).

What should I do if my ladybugs are escaping?
When properly assembled, the Ladybug Lantern is virtually escape proof. However, if you notice a few escapees, spend a few minutes looking carefully at the Lantern. Once you determine their escape route, take a few pieces of scotch tape and secure the spot of escape. (See “ESCAPE WARNING” notes on the other side of this brochure).

Why do my ladybugs bunch together?
Ladybugs are sociable insects. At certain times during the year, ladybugs enter a resting period. This phase occurs when the ladybugs have a reserve of stored fat within their bodies. When the fat reserve has been depleted, the ladybugs will become more active.

Do the ladybugs have enough air?
Yes. Notice the pre-punched air holes in the windows above the door and in the upper chimney.