Over the past twenty years, several native ladybug species have been declining in numbers. This new development is being taken very seriously by the scientists at Cornell University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. They have decided to investigate what the problem is.
They suspect that encroachment by non-native species, habitat loss and pesticides are contributing to the decline. Ladybugs are essential predators in both farms and forests and they keep us from being overrun with pests like aphids and mealybugs.
You can help the scientists in their research by taking part in the Lost Ladybug Project. Adults and children are encouraged to take photographs of any ladybugs they find and send them to Cornell via their website at www.lostladybug.org. Be sure to include details such as location and dates of the find. They are especially interested in finding pictures of the nine spotted ladybug, two-spotted and the transverse ladybug. Details on how to photograph, upload images and submit information can be found on their website. The website also has tips on how to find ladybugs and lots of ladybug legends and lore.
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
When my younger son did a project on ladybugs a few years ago, we learned a lot about the non-native species, which has taken over our area. These Asian ladybugs were introduced to help combat aphid infestations – which is always a bad idea…introducing non-native species for any reason, I mean. They smell bad, they bite, and every fall they try to swarm into houses (especially south-facing ones), which, we read, is the closest equivalent to the caves they hibernate in back in Japan. Ugh.
Thanks for letting us know about the Lost Ladybug Project. I’m going to get the kids to do it. I miss the native ladybugs I remember from my youth. The ratio around here seems to be 50 to 1 for the Asian ladybugs. We get all excited when we actually see a native one around. :}
Wow Teresa-
Thank you so much for the ladybug information. I didn’t realize the reason behind the non-native ladybugs being introduced and I didn’t realize that the non-natives bite! Good to know.
My boys are working on this project too and we are spreading the word at school so that others can take part.
Thanks for the comment.