Comparing Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetle
Like we mentioned before, there are a ton of differences between a ladybug and a Japanese Beetle and the table below them sums them all up.
The Main Differences Between Ladybugs And Japanese Beetles
Ladybugs and Japanese beetles have considerable differences in diet, location, color, and prey. For instance, while ladybugs are carnivorous through and through, Japanese beetles are predominantly herbivorous. How about we get into some more explicit details that will help us distinguish these two insects?
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetle: Location And Habitat
While they are both insects, ladybugs and Japanese beetles have some variations in their location. Lady bugs have a global presence from Africa to Asia to North America to South America to Central America to Europe and Oceania. Japanese beetles, on the other hand, as you can probably tell from the name, are native to Southeast Asia. They have also been found in Canada and the United States and some researchers believe their presence in North America can be traced to shipments of iris bulbs in the early 1900s. Regarding habitats, ladybugs are comfortable in gardens, forests, meadows, hedgerows, yards, and pastures. Japanese beetles often dwell anywhere from forests to grasslands to farms and they can also dwell in the city as long as they can find gardens around to feed on.
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetles: Diet
Ladybugs and Japanese beetles also differ in diets and prey. Ladybugs have a carnivorous diet comprising other insects such as aphids, spider mites, beetles, small insects, caterpillars, and thrips among others. They also explore cannibalism by feeding on other ladybugs, when occasion demands it. Japanese beetles, on the other hand, are largely herbivorous and their diet consists of plants and plant life from grapes to peaches to dahlia to chestnut. Their larvae, however, restrict their diet to grass and other similar plants. Japanese beetles are considered very destructive to gardens and they can reportedly clear an entire fruit tree in just about 15 minutes. One could call them the gardener’s bane.
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetles: Physical Appearance
Lady bugs have a shell skin type with hemispherical to oval-shaped bodies and six legs. They also have short legs, antennae, and colors including brown, yellow, red, black, orange, pink, and white. However, the most popular species have a red shell and distinct black, yellow, and reddish markings/spots, making them very recognizable. Ladybugs also have joints with special abilities to release a toxic fluid to scare off predators. They might even bite if it comes to it. Japanese beetles also have an oval-shaped, clubbed antennae, and five white hair tufts on each side of the abdomen. They have a typically solid exoskeleton with a bronze/copper-brown wing cover(elytra) shielding the other strong wings.
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetles: Size
Ladybugs and Japanese beetles are similar in that they are small in terms of length, weight, and dimensions. Lady bugs measure 0.08-0.4 inches in length and they weigh about 0.007 ounces. Japanese beetles are a little longer with length reaching about 0.591- 1 inch, while also weighing 0.00291 ounces.
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetles: Predators
Ladybugs and Japanese beetles have one thing in common with most other animals- predators. As much as they prey on other animals and plants, there are other species that also prey on them. For ladybugs, their nemesis includes rodents, dragonflies, birds, frogs, wasps, assassin bugs, and stink bugs among others. Japanese beetles, on the other hand, are often hunted down by moles, raccoons, wild birds, spiders, and other insects.
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetles: Number Of Species
It would interest one to know that there are over 5,000 species of ladybugs virtually across all the continents. The major and most popular categories include:
The seven-spotted ladybugThe thirteen-spotted ladybugThe Asian ladybugThe Coleomegilla maculate ladybugThe Hippodamia convergens ladybug
Even more interesting is the fact that Japanese beetles only have one species; like they are a single species. We have to admit; it’s quite rare to find a member of the Insecta class with just one species. These numbers show there is a world of difference between ladybugs and Japanese beetles, in terms of range of species.
Ladybugs vs Japanese Beetles: Conservation Status
For ladybugs, the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature’s Threatened Species classifies them as “Near threatened” which means they may be at risk of extinction in the future. The conservation status of the Japanese beetle is however classified as “least concern” meaning they face no impending threats that put them at risk of extinction. Isn’t it rather interesting that the ladybug with over 5,000 species is at risk of extinction while the Japanese beetle with just one species faces no such risks?
