Do Ladybugs bite?

The idea of ladybugs biting is a popular idea, although in actual fact most of the time isn't true in most cases. There are however several hundred different species, meaning that although some of the could potentially bite, the more common species commonly encountered in your own garden usually wont ever bite. The species of ladybug that tend to be able to pierce human skin tend to be a lot less common than the species most people are used to seeing every summer.

The mouth parts of most common ladybug species are specialized for slicing open the skin of aphids, and other similar species, which they consume in great numbers. Their mouth parts are sharp, although in most species they would be far to small to be able to pierce human skin, and ladybugs are also not generally aggressive when handled. Generally when something that they consider to be a predator attacks or handles, them, their first response is simply to fold their legs under their body and flatten themselves against the surface that they are on. This response means that only their armored back is exposed, making smaller predators such as ants unable to harm them.

Although most common species are unable to bite, some of the larger species, which tend to be found in tropical climates, as well as arts of Asia, are capable of biting on occasion. This generally occurs when the ladybugs are being held incorrectly, or when they are already injured. The most common response from a ladybug having been picked up is simply to run along the surface of whatever you put them on. So for example if you put one on your arm, it will usually simply run along your arm looking for a plant containing their prey species rather than biting you.

Many species of ladybug also have an entirely different method of defense, which they will commonly use when handled. Most species are capable of producing an orange blood like substance from their skin then handled or if a predator tries to eat them. This liquid is both foul tasting and poisonous, often deterring predators fro continuing to eat them. Although there are many species of beetle capable of this feat, ladybugs are often mistaken as being injured when this happens. For the most part the amounts of this liquid are so small that they would be harmless if ingested by a human, although in some species this liquid can burn the skin if left for sufficient time.

The majority of the time ladybugs are usually found alongside their prey, and so are usually seen on the stems of plants that aphids like to live on, such as roses. On some occasions however they will swarm in great numbers, particularly when they are hatching at the start of summer. In these circumstances, you might be more likely to be bitten if a lot of them get onto you, although this is usually only a response to being so cramped together. Although these bites may feel unpleasant, they very rarely break the skin, and are comparable to being pinched at the worst.

The only real risk that ladybugs pose is that some people find that they are allergic to them, in particular their saliva. This can mean that they encounter minor inflammation after a ladybug has walked over them, although usually isn't dangerous in any way. Many people assume that they are being bitten when in fact they are simply being walked over. Certain imported Asian species in particular are known to have spikes on their legs, which help them to grip onto plant stems. When these are dragged across the skin, the sensation is often mistaken for a bite, although in reality it is not.

If you are bitten by a ladybug, then the wound will not usually require any treatment as the skin is not usually broken. Only larger species are even capable of inflicting a bite, and of those only usually the Asian species will tend to bite for no reason. If the bite is painful then cleaning it with an antiseptic cleaner is usually the best precaution to take, although this isn't usually needed. Most of the time that worst thing that a ladybug will get into a bite is aphid blood where they have been feeding, and this is generally only like sugar water anyway.