Ladybugs are some of the most beloved insects in the world.
Everyone loves to see them flitting about, their bright colors a joy to behold.
However, there are many other bugs that look like ladybugs, but arent!
We will also provide some tips on how to tell them apart!
In this article
What are ladybugs?
They are beneficial to gardens by helping to control pest populations.
Ladybugs can sometimes be found in large numbers on plants or trees that have aphid infestations.
Ladybugs are considered one of the most important beneficial insects because of their ability to help control pest populations.
They have a wide natural range, with more than 5,000 species known worldwide.
Ladybugs are not considered pests and do not bite or sting humans or pets.
In fact, they are often regarded as symbols of good luck and fortune in many cultures.
Bugs That Look Like Ladybugs
1.
Argus Tortoise Beetle
Argus Tortoise Beetle is a species of beetle that belongs to the subfamily Rutelinae.
It is native to Central and South America and was first described in 1823 by Carl von Linnaeus.
The name argus comes from the Greek mythology figure Argos Panoptes, who had many eyes.
The Argus Tortoise Beetle has a large, oval-shaped body with pronotum and elytra that are covered in scales.
The scales are usually iridescent blue or green and contain spots arranged in an eye-like pattern.
The Argus Tortoise Beetle feeds on foliage, woody plants, and other vegetation.
It can also be found in gardens, where they feed on vegetable crops such as lettuce and cucumbers.
Ladybugs vs Argus Tortoise Beetles.
The ladybug and the Argus Tortoise Beetle are often mistaken for one another due to their similar coloration.
However, there are some key differences between them.
Asian lady beetle
It is an invasive species of lady beetle native to East Asia.
They can enter through small openings or cracks around windows, doors, and other spaces.
Once inside, they can become a nuisance as they gather in large groups on walls and ceilings.
Ladybugs vs Asian lady beetles.
Both ladybugs and Asian lady beetles are a pop in of beetle in the family Coccinellidae.
Their bodies can range from 0.8 mm to 18 mm in length depending on the species.
Ladybugs are found in a wide variety of habitats ranging from deserts to gardens and even some urban areas.
They can range in size from 3-9 mm in length.
Though both types of beetle share some similar characteristics, they differ significantly in terms of habitat and habits.
Bean Leaf Beetle
Bean Leaf Beetle (BLB) is a beetle that is found throughout the United States.
BLB feed by taking out small pieces of leaves or stems from the host plant to feed on.
The adult beetle is oval in shape and can range from 5-8mm long.
Ladybugs vs Bean Leaf Beetles.
Ladybugs and bean leaf beetles are both beneficial insects that can help protect crops from pests.
They also have a higher reproductive rate which allows them to quickly repopulate their numbers when needed.
Ladybugs also have the advantage of being able to fly long distances in search of food.
These species of cockroaches are found all over the world, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions.
They feed on a variety of plant material, fungi, and insects.
Ladybugs vs Beetle-mimicking cockroaches.
Its hard to tell them apart at first glance, but they are actually quite different.
They have a round body shape with bright colors and spots on their wing covers.
Beetle-mimicking cockroaches, on the other hand, are insects that resemble ladybugs but arent actually related.
They have a flattened body shape and duller coloration than their counterpart.
Although they may look alike, there are some key differences between ladybugs and beetle-mimicking cockroaches.
Ladybugs also have short antennae compared to the antennae of cockroaches which are longer and more segmented.
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It is native to Europe, but has been introduced and established in North America as well.
The legs and antennae are black.
Ladybugs vs Eight-spotted Flea Beetles.
Ladybugs and eight-spotted flea beetles are commonly seen in gardens, on lawns, or in fields.
They also have similar body shapes, which can make them difficult to tell apart.
When it comes to identification, the most obvious difference between ladybugs and eight-spotted flea beetles is their coloring.
Another way to tell a ladybug from an eight-spotted flea beetle is by observing their behavior.
Ladybugs tend to fly around, looking for food and warm spots in the sun.
Ladybugs are also more likely to eat other small insects while eight-spotted flea beetles mostly stick to aphids.
False Ladybird
This is a species of beetle found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
It is also known as the False Ladybug or False Lady Beetle.
False Ladybirds are small beetles that typically range from 3-7mm in length.
They are brownish in color with black markings and white spots on their wings.
Unlike other ladybugs, they do not have spots on their bodies.
False Ladybirds are found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands and wooded areas.
They feed mainly on aphids and other small insects, although they also eat pollen and nectar from flowers.
Ladybugs vs False Ladybirds (Endomychus coccineus).
False Ladybirds (Endomychus coccineus) are sometimes mistaken for them due to their similar appearance.
However, there are several key differences between these two species.
The first major difference is in their size.
Finally, false Ladybirds are not as beneficial to the environment as true ladybugs.
Golden Tortoise Beetle
Golden Tortoise Beetle is a species of beetle found in the United States and Mexico.
It is known for its bright, metallic gold or copper color, hence its name.
The shell of these beetles is hard and may have small spines or ridges.
Ladybugs vs Golden Tortoise Beetles.
Both of these incredible insects have unique characteristics, which make them fascinating.
Ladybugs are small, brightly colored beetles that feed on other smaller insects like aphids and mites.
Their shells provide a layer of protection from predators, and they feed on the leaves of plants.
When comparing Ladybugs to Golden Tortoise Beetles, it is important to note their differences in size and diet.
Ladybugs also have spots that are not found on Golden Tortoise Beetles, giving them a distinctive look.
It feeds on leaves, flowers, and immature fruit, reducing the yield and quality of grapevines.
The adult beetle is black with long, pointed antennae and measures up to 0.6 inches in length.
Its larvae are light yellow-green in color, and measure up to 0.75 inches long.
Grapevine Beetle can have a devastating effect on grapevines by eating the leaves, flowers, and immature grapes.
This reduces the yield and quality of the grapes, as well as their sugar content.
The beetle also transmitsfungal diseasessuch as powdery mildew, which further reduces grape production.
Ladybugs vs Grapevine Beetles.
These two beetles are often confused with each other because of their similar size and color.
But, there are some important differences that distinguish the two species.
They have six legs and two antennae.
Ladybugs feed on aphids and some other soft-bodied insects, helping to control the pest population in gardens.
They also have six legs and two antennae.
Unlike ladybugs, these beetles feed on grapevine leaves and young shoots, causing damage to the vines.
Ladybugs vs Ladybird-mimicking spiders.
Ladybugs belong to the Coccinellidae family, while the ladybird-mimicking spider belongs to the Eresidae family.
Ladybugs have multicolored shells, which ranges from bright reds to oranges and even blacks.
When it comes to behavior, there are also differences between them.
Ladybugs feed primarily on aphids and other small insects, while the ladybird-mimicking spider is a predator.
Another difference between the two is their lifespan.
Larger Elm Leaf Beetle.
As a result, it has caused extensive damage toelm treesthroughout North America.
Larger Elm Leaf Beetles are easily identifiable by their bright yellow-green coloration and characteristic humpbacked body shape.
Ladybugs vs Larger Elm Leaf Beetles.
Ladybugs are a beneficial species of beetle that are very common and can be found in many environments.
Ladybugs are considered beneficial and are usually welcomed by gardeners and farmers alike.
The Mottled Tortoise Beetle feeds on the sap from its host plant.
It pierces through the surface of the leaf with its mandibles, drinking up the nutrient-rich liquid.
The larvae are also sap feeders, however they tend to be pickier in their choice of host plant.
Ladybugs vs Mottled Tortoise Beetles.
These two beetles are often confused for each other due to their similar size and shape.
However, they have very different characteristics that make them unique.
When threatened by predators, the Ladybug will often release a foul smelling odor as a defensive mechanism.
When it comes to their reproductive cycle, Ladybugs and Mottled Tortoise Beetles have vastly different habits.
Ladybugs reproduce at a much faster rate, laying hundreds of eggs in one cycle.
Both Ladybugs and Mottled Tortoise Beetles are beneficial insects that help keep garden pests under control.
Ladybugs feed on aphids and othergarden pestswhile the Mottled Tortoise Beetle feeds on grubs and larvae.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
This colorful beetle is a common pest of cucumber and related plants.
The adult spotted cucumber beetle is yellow-green with twelve black spots on its back.
It has long antennae that are yellow at the base and black at the tip.
Adult beetles feed on the foliage and flowers of cucumber, squash, melons, and other related plants.
The spotted cucumber beetle is also known to carry bacterial wilt disease which affects many cucurbit crops.
The infected foliage wilts quickly, reducing yields and killing plants.
Ladybugs vs Spotted Cucumber Beetles.
Ladybugs are beneficial insects that feed on harmful pests such as aphids and mites.
Spotted cucumber beetles, however, are a very different species of beetle.
They can cause extensive damage to crops like cucumbers and melons by feeding on their leaves and stems.
Ladybugs are typically smaller, measuring about 5-8mm in length.
They are round and dome-shaped with long antennae and black spots on their wings.
Another difference between these two species is the throw in of damage they cause to plants.
Ladybugs only feed on soft-bodied pests like aphids and mites, which rarely cause serious damage to crops.
Spotted cucumber beetles, however, consume plant material such as leaves and stems.
This can cause extensive damage to crops like melons and cucumbers if left unchecked.
Steganocerus multipunctatus
Steganocerus multipunctatus is a species of beetle native to South America.
Steganocerus multipunctatus is unique among other beetles in that it feeds mainly on leaves, flowers, and fruits.
It is also a known pollinator of the fruit it consumes.
Its rows of white spots on its back further set it apart as unique among other beetles.
Ladybug vs Steganocerus multipunctatus.
Ladybugs and Steganocerus multipunctatus are both beneficial insect species.
Both species provide natural pest control, but there are some differences between them.
Ladybugs are much more visible thanks to their bright red or orange colouration and distinct spots.
Ladybugs will eat up to 400 aphids in their adult lifetime and can lay up to 1,000 eggs.
It has a very distinctive coloration, with its dark green body and bright red spots.
Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle primarily resides in wetland areas such as marshes, swamps, and bogs.
These areas provide a suitable habitat for the beetle to feed on the milkweed plant.
The beetle is known to consume large amounts of milkweed leaves and stems in its diet.
The Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle has an interesting life cycle.
It goes through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
In the summer months, adult beetles lay their eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves.
When ready to emerge, the adults break through the sac and begin feeding immediately.
Ladybugs vs Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetles.
But what sets these two insects apart from each other?
Aesthetically, a ladybug is easily recognizable because of its distinct red color with black spots.
It has a spherical shape with six short legs, two antennae and two compound eyes.
What are the brown bugs that look like ladybugs?
Both species of beetles look similar to ladybugs, but have some subtle differences.
Both of these species can be found in various parts of the world, including North America and Europe.
Bugs that look like ladybugs without spots.
They usually have a black head and may have white to tan stripes on their wings.
Asian lady beetles feed on other insects, making them useful for pest control in commercial farming and greenhouses.
Bugs that look like ladybugs but have stripes.
These striped beetles have numerous color, size and appearance variations, making them easy to identify.
One bang out of striped beetle is the seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata).
As its name implies, this ladybug has seven spots (usually black) on each wing.
It is the most commonly-seen species of beetle in North America and Europe.
Another punch in of striped beetle is the two-spotted ladybug (Adalia bipunctata).
This beetle has two distinct red spots on each wing, as well as a black head and thorax.
It is commonly found in both North America and Europe, but is more numerous in the latter.
Orange bugs that look like ladybugs.
Ladybugs are a popular beetle species, recognizable by their bright orange and black spotted bodies.
Red bugs that look like ladybugs.
They are often actually a species of beetle known as the Harlequin Bug.
Black bugs that look like ladybugs.
They are commonly called False Ladybugs or Giant Asian Lady Beetles.
These insects are native to Asia, but they have spread across much of the world.
They come in a variety of colors, from yellowish to dark red.
This way, you’re free to properly care for the bug and ensure its safety.
