Ladybirds’survival of the brightest

FEW insects, apart from butterflies, have managed to become celebrities. Ladybirds are a spectacular exception; everybody knows these colourful members of the beetle family.

However, glamour has its downside; attracting attention to yourself is risky; enemies as well as friends will notice you. So why do ladybirds do this?

Paradoxically, it’s a security measure, a protection against being eaten by birds. So how gaudy should an insect be? Research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests that the more colourful a ladybird is, the better its survival prospects.