The following list articulates 100 facts about ladybugs: 1.-8.Ladybugs belong to the Coccinellidae ("scarlet") family within the Cucujoidea ("luminous") superfamily in the Polyphaga ("eaters of many things") suborder of the Coleoptera ("sheathed wing" = beetle) order of the Insecta ("cut into sections") class within the Arthropoda ("jointed foot") phylum in the Animalia ("having breath") kingdom of the Eukarya ("well nut" = nucleus) domain.

9.-16.They can be grouped into one of eight subfamilies: Chilocorinae, Coccidulinae, Coccinellinae, Epilachninae, Hyperaspidinae, Microweiseinae, Scymninae, or Sticholotidinae.

17.-24.The term herbivore sometimes describes the Epilachninae family, some of whose genera prey upon amaranth, crucifer, gourd, grass, legume and nightshade family members, even though the feeding tends to be on plants of little economic interest.

25.-32.Many ladybug species nevertheless emerge as fearless carnivores of such unpopular Sternorrhyncha true bug suborder members as aphids, jumping plant lice, phylloxerans, psyllids, scale and whiteflies.

33.-40.Entomologists find that apparently carnivorous ladybug species qualify for omnivore status since gut content analysis reveals remains of fungi, honeydew, leaves, nectar, nutrient-rich xylem, pollen, and sugar-rich phloem.

41.-48.Ladybugs get eaten by other ladybugs -- especially by aggressive harlequin and seven-spot ladybirds in the egg, larval and mature stages since ladybird beetles appear to deposit infertile eggs to provide immediate nutrition for hungry newborns hatched from fertile eggs.

49.-57.The seven-spot ladybug has household recognition in Finland as a symbol of the nation and of the Swedish People's Party and in the United States -- along with the convergent ladybug in North Dakota since 2011 and the nine-spot ladybug in New York since 1989 -- as state symbols of Delaware and of Massachusetts since 1974, of New Hampshire since 1977, of Ohio and of Tennessee since 1975.

58.-65.The ladybug is not immune from predation by assassin bugs, birds, dragonflies, frogs, other ladybugs, spiders, toads and wasps,

66.-73.Inexperienced observers of wildlife sometimes jump to the correct conclusion that Mexican bean beetles really are ladybugs and the incorrect conclusion that ladybug-reminiscent insects such as Colorado and false potato, grapevine, spotted leaf, spotted soft-wing flower and tortoise beetles are ladybugs.

74.-81.But ladybugs keep identification simple through dainty dome-shaped egg, diminutive crocodile-like larval, small leaf-attached pupal and hemisphere-like mature stage looks even though adults can be bright-bodied with dark dots, bright without spots, dark with bright dots or dark without spots.

82.-89.They live as long as two to three years in the wild -- after surviving three to 10 days as eggs, one month as four week-long instars, and three to 12 days as pupae -- by perfecting such effective defenses as emitting unpleasant scents, tastes and textures and as playing dead.

90.-97.They make the indoors happier by functioning as lethargic controls of household arthropods and the outdoors healthier by serving as natural pollinators of edible crops, predators of invertebrate pests and of weedy vegetation, prey of beneficial amphibians, birds, insects and mammals.

98.-100.Ladybugs need environmentally educated people for protection against degraded habitats, globally warmed climate change, and polluted ecosystems.

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