Ladybird Beetle Migration Facts

Location/Distance

• They are found throughout the entire world.

• The ladybird beetle travels hundreds of kilometers between overwintering sites and mating/breeding sites.

• Convergent ladybird beetles in California travel from overwintering in Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Central Valley for spring feeding/mating.
  
  

Mating

• Mating occurs in the spring after overwintering hibernation.

• They usually mate and lay eggs after migrating back to spring sites.

• Convergent ladybeetles only produce one generation per year; however, this can vary among species.
  
  

Feeding

• Aphids are the ladybeetles most common food, which become available in the spring.
  
  

Migration Cues

• Temperature, photoperiod, food availability, olfactory cues, and landmarks tells the ladybird beetles when and where to go.
  
  

Navigational Mechanisms

• Directed flights towards overwintering sites.

• Dispersal flights to feeding sites.