Ladybird Research Laboratory

Let there be spots!

Emergence of the common 7 spot ladybird adult, Coccinella septempunctata... From delicate yellow elytra on emergence to the gradual appearance of spots in an hour or so and then on to the majestic scarlet red cloak of "The Lady" from Renaissance era paintings with the 7 black spots of sorrows and happiness... Picture credit: Singh Somvanshi

Happiness is finding a ladybird

Come on Alumni...
Let's make University of Lucknow, a central one.
Please sign the petition and share extensively.. gather the troops.a battle is to be won

Can you spare a minute to help Geetanjali Mishra? Honoring 'Central University Status' to University of Lucknow in its Centennial year

This cute ladybird beetle that you see here, is the one that brought "scientific fascination" into ladybirds. This is Rodolia cardinalis, a biological control agent of a citrus pest, Icerya purchasi. In 1887-88, Icerya found its way to the citrus orchards of California from Australia, and massively damaged the citrus industry there. Major reason being that this prey being Australian in origin had no predator in America.

Entomologists were dispatched to Australia in search for a biological control agent against Icerya. They returned with 3, of which the ladybird beetle, Rodolia promised the most. The ladybird beetle was mass multiplied and release first into the Wolfskill orchards in LA, and then wide across the pest ridden orchards elsewhere. This happened in 1889 and till date, Icerya has not obtained major pest status in the citrus industry of America.

And that my friends is when and where the spotlight was thrust upon ladybirds as potential biological control agents.

And right now, one of our students Shashwat Singh Somvanshi, is working as a post doc on this precious little organism at ARO Volcani centre, Israel.

Superstitions associated with Ladybirds:
1. If it sits on your dress you get a new one!
2. If it sits on your hand, you get a wedding ring!!!

This one in the picture is not sitting on a dress or a hand but that doesn't mean it is not lucky for the plant, it is gearing up to eat aphids. Doing what it does best.. being our friend!

Many people like to ask what are male ladybirds called.. and we like to tell them that this is one place where there are known by their female associates.. Gender justice ..at play

This right here is the cosmopolitan ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata. The name ladybird was bestowed on this ultra-cute group of insects, because of this species. The word Lady refers to Virgin Mary because the scarlet red colour of this beetle is compared to her scarlet cloak in Rennaissance era paintings and the 7 spots that adorn their elytra are reminiscent of the 7 joys and sorrows of Mother Marys' life. Also, ladybirds are considered good luck symbols across the world.