Ladybugs (瓢虫) are loved by people so much. In many cultures they’re considered good luck. There are about 5,000 different types of ladybugs in the world. They come in many different colors and patterns, but the most familiar in the UK is the seven-spot ladybug which has a shiny, red-and-black body. Most people like ladybugs because they are pretty graceful and harmless to humans. Farmers also love them very much. They eat aphids (蛀虫) and other plant-eating pests.
Most ladybugs have oval, dome-shaped bodies with six short legs. Depending on the types, they can have spots, stripes (条纹) or no markings at all. Seven-spot ladybugs are red or sometimes orange with three spots on each side and one in the middle. Their head is black with white patches (斑点) on either side. The ladybug’s bright colors can warn animals they’d better not eat them. When they are in danger, the ladybugs produce an oily, yellow fluid from joints in their legs—and their coloring acts as a reminder to any predators who have eaten their kind before that they taste disgusting (令人厌恶的)!
These bugs have another trick to avoid danger too—remain still and pretend to be dead. Simple, eh? Birds are ladybugs’ main predators, but they also fall victims (牺牲品) to frogs, spiders and dragonflies.
Seven-spot ladybugs are native to Europe but were introduced to North America in the mid-1900s to control aphid populations. These ladybugs are happy in many different habitats (栖息地), including grasslands, forests, cities, suburbs and along rivers. During spring and summer, when they are most active, these ladybugs can be seen fluttering around or walking on the leaves of plants. But when the weather turns colder in autumn, they look for a warm, secluded place to hibernate, such as under rocks or even inside houses. They like to group together, too.
【小题1】In many cultures what do ladybugs stand for?【小题2】Why do farmers love ladybugs?
【小题3】What will ladybugs do when they are in danger?
【小题4】Do you love to keep ladybugs as pets? Why or why not? (Write 30 words or more.)
