The ladybug (family Coccinellidae) is a familiar garden insect known as a gardener’s friend due to its appetite for pests. These distinctive beetles are a sign of a healthy ecosystem during warmer months. When temperatures drop, their sudden disappearance sparks curiosity about how they survive the winter. Understanding their survival strategy reveals a biological adaptation far different from their active, predatory lifestyle.
The Surprising Truth About Their Winter Diet
The answer to what ladybugs eat in winter is nothing at all, as they enter a programmed state of dormancy called diapause. This physiological change is determined by decreasing day length and falling temperatures, preparing them for the harsh, food-scarce winter. To survive this prolonged period without feeding, the ladybug relies entirely on substantial fat reserves accumulated during the late summer and fall.
Ladybirds, especially aphid-feeding species, enter diapause with fat reserves that can make up 35% to 50% of their body weight. During this time, their metabolic rate is drastically suppressed, conserving the stored fat for months of survival until spring.
Where Ladybugs Hibernate
To conserve energy and protect themselves, adult ladybugs seek secluded, protected microhabitats for diapause. They look for places that offer insulation and stability against extreme cold and moisture, often choosing natural structures. Common overwintering locations include beneath loose tree bark, within leaf litter, or under rocks and logs.
Many species, such as the convergent lady beetle, employ aggregation, gathering in large groups sometimes numbering in the thousands. These aggregations help regulate body temperature and provide collective defense against environmental fluctuations. The multi-colored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is often found entering wall voids, attics, or window crevices of human homes, mimicking natural sheltered cracks. The beetles release pheromones to attract others, resulting in the same aggregation spots being used year after year.
What Ladybugs Eat When Active
During the active months of spring and summer, the ladybug’s diet shifts dramatically as they become voracious predators crucial for natural pest control. Their primary food source is soft-bodied insects, with aphids being the most preferred prey. A single adult ladybug can consume between 10 and 50 aphids per day, making them highly valued by gardeners.
Beyond aphids, ladybugs opportunistically feed on a variety of other garden pests:
- Scale insects
- Mealybugs
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
This predatory diet is often supplemented when insect prey is scarce. Many adult ladybug species also consume flower pollen and nectar, which provide carbohydrates for energy and protein to support reproduction and fat storage for the coming winter.