Ladybugs

small, nearly hemispherical beetles. They are either red or yellow, with black spots; or else black, with white, red, or yellow spots. Most of them live on insects. The grubs of one species, called "wigglers," make themselves of great use to hop growers by devouring hop-lice. One sort, yellow with large black spots, makes free with squash and melon leaves. Children have long been friends of the ladybugs. They sing:

It is hardly worth while to tell them that ladybugs are really beetles. A lady-bug or lady-bird, as it is sometimes called, has been imported into California for the service its larvae render in destroying the scale insect that infests fruit orchards. See Beetles