“Golden ladybugs” spark curiosity due to their striking appearance. Many people wonder if these shimmering insects are rare or a distinct species. Understanding their rarity requires accurate identification. This article explores the true identities of “golden ladybugs” and clarifies their status.
Identifying “Golden Ladybugs”
The term “golden ladybug” describes several insects, some true ladybugs and others not. Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybirds, belong to the family Coccinellidae and come in many colors beyond red and black. Some ladybug species naturally exhibit golden or yellowish hues, such as the 22-spot ladybug, which is bright yellow with black spots. Their color can vary even within the same species, displaying orange, yellow, or black bodies, with or without spots.
A common misidentification for a “golden ladybug” is the Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata). This beetle is frequently mistaken for a ladybug due to its similar rounded, dome-shaped body and metallic, brilliant gold appearance. However, the Golden Tortoise Beetle is a leaf beetle, belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, not a ladybug. Key visual differences include its flattened, nearly transparent shell margins that extend around its body, distinct from the typical ladybug’s domed and opaque wing covers.
The Golden Tortoise Beetle’s remarkable metallic color is not due to pigments but rather to structural coloration, where light interacts with microscopic layers in its exoskeleton. This insect possesses a unique ability to change its color, shifting from a shiny gold to a duller reddish-brown when disturbed or stressed, or even during mating. This color change occurs as fluid is displaced within intricate layers of its outer shell, altering how light is reflected.
Assessing Their Rarity
Assessing their rarity requires differentiating between true golden ladybugs and the Golden Tortoise Beetle. Many ladybug species with yellow or golden hues are common within their native ranges. For instance, species like the 22-spot ladybug are common in parts of Europe and Asia. Yellow or orange variants of common species like the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) are also not rare, being widely distributed and abundant.
The Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) is also common and widely distributed across the Americas, from Canada to Argentina. It can often be found in gardens and fields, particularly on plants in the morning glory family, such as sweet potatoes and bindweeds, which are its primary food sources. While some might consider them rare due to their striking appearance, the species as a whole is secure. Therefore, most insects commonly identified as “golden ladybugs” are not rare when correctly identified, as either common ladybug species with natural color variations or the widespread Golden Tortoise Beetle.