LADY BIRD AS BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROLLING AGENT Blog | UCBMSH – Life science degree college in Dehradun ( Doon ) , Uttarakhand , India .

Ladybird beetle also known as seven spotted Ladybird (Order – Coleoptera, Family – Coccinellidae, Species – Coccinella septempunctata) is an important biological pest controlling agent. Their distinctive spots and attractive colours apparently make them unappealing to predators, can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste and synthesize the toxic alkaloids, N-oxide coccinelline to protect itself from predators. It was observed in the wheat fields in and around the college campus of Uttaranchal College of Biomedical Sciences & Hospital during a field visit with the students. It was found continuously feeding on aphids and thrips in the cropland field. The density was found to be very much in number during the field observations in its larval as well as adult stage.

One species of lady bird Rodolia cardinalis imported in India to control Cottony cushion scale Icerya purchase.

Different species of Coccinella now days used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to reduce harmful effects of different pesticides to humanity and environment.