The Convergent Ladybug, or Convergent Lady Beetle, is a native species of North America known for its distinctive markings, two white lines merging on its thorax. These white lines are unique to each individual, while the 12 to 13 black spots on its forewings resemble constellations.
Like many other ladybug species, they are tiny agricultural soldiers. Their primary food source is aphids and other soft-bodied insects; they are nature's pest controllers. The Convergent Ladybug can live in crop fields, forests, and grasslands as long as there is a plentiful supply of aphids.
These predatory species lay their eggs on the underside of leaves, often near aphid colonies, which serve as a food source for their young ones. Lady beetle eggs usually are spindle-shaped and yellow to orange-red.
The Thirteen-Spotted Ladybug lives in wetland habitats across the North Hemisphere. Its red or orange forewings are adorned with thirteen black spots.
Their diet helps maintain the balance of gardens and agricultural landscapes. During winter, the beetle hibernates with others of its kind under leaf litter or in other hidden areas, waiting for spring to resume its work.
The multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, or Harlequin, originates from eastern Asia, though humans brought it to the United States and other countries to control pests.
Harlequin ladybugs exhibit three main physical variations. The "succinea" variety ranges from orange to red with up to 22 black spots.
Conversely, the "conspicua" and "spectabilis" forms are primarily black with two or four red markings, respectively. The pronotum pattern varies, and their undersides are dark, ringed with reddish-brown, matching their brown legs.
Asian Lady Beetles are notorious for being highly invasive. They often overwinter indoors, smell unpleasant when disturbed, and can bite humans. Their threat to native species and the grape industry has led to control methods2, including insecticides, trapping, beetle removal, and blocking building access.
The Fourteen-Spotted Ladybug is native to Europe but can also live in North America and Asia. It has yellow or pale white wings with 14 black spots that often create complex patterns.
Gardeners and farmers appreciate the insect as a natural pest control agent because it feeds on aphid species. However, it is less efficient than other ladybugs due to its small size and slower feeding habits.
The Polished Lady Beetle is native to North America and is known for its smooth and glossy appearance. Its shell is vibrant and ranges from orange to red, with unspotted forewings, which gives it a minimalist and unique look.
Unlike other lady beetles, this is a solitary creature found in trees, shrubs, fields, and gardens. It feeds on aphids and other soft-bodied insects, including their eggs, making it a helpful ally to gardeners and farmers.
During the breeding season, the female Polished Lady Beetle lays hundreds of eggs near aphid colonies to feed the larvae when they hatch.
The Pine Ladybird has a black coat with four red spots. This beetle has become an adventurous species, crossing continents to live in pine forests and plantations in North America.
This type of ladybug showcases a nearly circular, glossy shape with a base flange. Typically, its black wing cover displays two prominent red spots and two smaller ones, which may be orange or yellow.
They control scale insects that damage pine trees. Female Pine Ladybirds lay eggs among these pests to ensure their hatchlings have an abundant food source upon hatching.
The Mealybug Ladybird originates from Australia but is now present in parts of Europe and North America. This unique ladybug has a spotless dark brown wing cover, while the rest of the body is orange-brown. It feeds on destructive scale insects, especially mealybugs.
Moreover, the ladybird larvae are covered in waxy filaments, which makes them look similar to the mealybugs they eat. This disguise also helps them avoid becoming prey for other predators.
Mexican Bean Beetles feed on plants, particularly legume crops like beans. They are deceptive, featuring a yellow to copper-brown shell with sixteen black spots. However, they damage crops.
Their life cycle begins as an egg, which hatches into a spiny, yellow-orange larva. The larval stage lasts for some weeks, during which the larvae feed and grow before pupating on the leaves they feed on.
After another week or two, the adult beetles emerge and start the cycle again. Controlling their population is essential to avoid significant crop damage.
The American Kestrel is a small but energetic falcon commonly found in North America4, central Mexico, and the Caribbean. They can live in open grasslands, harsh deserts, and urban areas.
It is the smallest falcon species, weighing around 8 to 12 inches and weighing approximately 2.8 to 5.8 ounces. At first sight, its vibrant plumage featuring warm-toned shades of rust, gray, and white, paired with a distinct black slash near its eyes, is striking. Its slender, sharp beak is a dark yellow, often tipped with black.
The American Kestrel's diverse diet includes insects, mammals, and birds. Its unique hunting technique involves mid-air hovering and a speedy and precise dive.
The Common Kestrel, also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel, is a bird of prey found in various habitats across the globe.
Hues of chestnut-brown distinguish them and have intricate black markings contrasted by a lighter, almost cream-colored, underbelly. Its beak is a muted grey, shaped sharply for skillful hunting. A small-to-medium bird of prey typically measures between 13 to 17 inches in length and weighs approximately 5 to 10 ounces.
The Mauritius Kestrel is a compact bird of prey, standing around 8 to 10 inches tall with a weight range of 4 to 6 ounces. This falcon displays a warm chestnut-brown color across much of its body, while its tail and wing feathers boast black stripes. Its powerful beak is an eye-catching yellow, contrasting starkly against its brown head.
They were once the world's rarest bird, with only four individuals in the wild in 1974. However, dedicated conservation efforts have helped the bird recover, and its population has increased to around 170-200 birds today.
Despite its successful rebound, the Mauritius Kestrel is still listed as an endangered species due to its small population size and limited habitat range, which make it vulnerable to habitat destruction and predators.
The Lesser Kestrel inhabits open grasslands, farmlands, and steppe landscapes. They breed from April to August in Europe and Central Asia and migrate to Africa for the winter.
The Lesser Kestrel is a small bird of prey, typically weighing between 4 to 6 ounces and spanning a length of 10 to 12 inches. Its plumage is slate-gray on the male's head and tail but more earthy brown for females. Their undersides display a dappled pattern of cream and brown, while their sharp beak is a notable yellow with a hook at the end for tearing prey.
Their diet consists mainly of grasshoppers, beetles, and other small invertebrates, and they may occasionally eat a small rodent or bird.
The Eurasian Hobby lives in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is known for its agility and precision while hunting dragonflies, butterflies, and other insects in mid-air.
Likewise, it is a relatively small raptor, with a body length typically between 12-14 inches and around 0.5 pounds. It carries an aesthetically pleasing mix of colors on its feathers: its back and wings are bluish-gray. At the same time, the underparts have a reddish tint. Its beak is dark, sharply hooked, and well-suited for carnivorous preferences.
It builds its nest by repurposing the abandoned nests of other birds. Moreover, it hunts silently by surprising its prey as it flies low over water bodies or vegetation.
The Australian Hobby is found in Australia and New Guinea and is known for its agility and swiftness.
This type of falcon is an elegant raptor, smaller in stature, typically measuring 12 to 14 inches long, and weighing approximately half a pound. A slender body profile is dressed in charcoal grey and soft white plumage. Its beak, robust and hooked, features a distinctive yellow-orange hue.
It hunts insects and small birds during the late afternoon and early evening. The bird is also an opportunistic nester, often taking over old nests abandoned by other birds. Moreover, this territorial bird usually hunts alone or in pairs.
The Oriental Hobby is a medium-sized Asian falcon species. They weigh between 6.5 to 9 ounces and measure about 10 to 12 inches in length. They sport a sleek coat of gray and rufous feathers, contrasted by dark, slate-colored beaks and slate-blue feet.
Likewise, it is an efficient hunter that catches prey mid-flight, including beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, small birds, and bats.
The Oriental Hobby nests in the cooler regions of the Himalayas and migrates to Southeast Asia during winter.
The Peregrine Falcon is a bird of prey known for its exceptional flying abilities3. It is the world’s fastest bird, reaching up to 240mph.
They hover between 15-20 inches in size and weigh from 1.2 to 3.5 pounds. This raptor showcases slate-gray backs and barred white undersides, its beak—piercing yellow, as sharp as its predatory instincts. The intricate design of their plumage sets them apart, truly an exhibition of nature's canvas.
Moreover, Peregrine Falcons are globally distributed species often found near coasts, cliffs, mountains, and bodies of water.
These falcons hunt for smaller birds such as pigeons, doves, waterfowl, songbirds, and waders. Their razor-sharp talons make them highly efficient predators.
The Merlin Falcon is a bird of prey known for its excellent hunting abilities and swift flight. It is found across the Northern Hemisphere in various habitats and is highly adaptable. As a migratory bird, this type of falcon travels south during winter and primarily feeds on small birds.
Female Merlin Falcons are larger than males, and their plumage is brown, while males are slate-blue to dark gray. They measure between 9.4 and 13.4 inches long and weigh approximately 5.6-8.5 ounces.
The bird has an average lifespan of six years in the wild but can live up to ten years in captivity.
The Prairie Falcon is a bird of prey that inhabits the arid regions of North and Central America.
They typically measure about 14 to 20 inches in length and weigh between 1.5 and 3.3 pounds. Exhibiting earth-toned plumage, this raptor bears a dominant beige-pale body that contrasts with the darker axillaries. The beak, impressively robust, reveals a muted yellow hue.
Prairie falcons tend to eat whatever is available, such as ground squirrels and prairie dogs. Still, they may also catch smaller birds or reptiles. Moreover, the prairie falcon hunts using a high-speed dive or "stoop" to catch prey in mid-air.
This bird is territorial, especially during its breeding season from March to July, and breeding pairs return to the same nesting site year after year5, usually on cliff faces.
The Grey Falcon is a vulnerable bird species; the scientific community considers it one of Australia's rarest birds of prey.
The Grey Falcon is notable for its light-grey plumage, which gives the bird its name. Their wingtips and tail feathers often feature a darker shade of grey. Their beak is blue-grey that lightens at the base, while their feet are a vivid yellow. A small bird, the Grey Falcon usually measures 14-17 inches in length and weighs from 1.2 to 1.6 pounds.
Thanks to its pale grey feathers, this bird can blend into its habitat, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions. Grey falcons live in open habitats with sparse vegetation.
The Grey Falcon is a highly skilled hunter known for its skill and speed. Its diet is diverse and ranges from mammals to reptiles. However, it is particularly noteworthy for its hunting of other birds.
The Red-footed Falcon soars freely across Europe and Asia. This raptor is relatively small, measuring 28-34 cm in length, but it has red feet and 'trousers' that stand out from the rest of its body. The male falcon has a blue-grey coat, while the females and juveniles have a browner shade.
These types of falcons maneuver mid-air to catch their prey adeptly, feeding mainly on beetles and grasshoppers. However, they also hunt small mammals, birds, and amphibians. Red-footed Falcons also hunt in teams.
They prefer open spaces such as marshes, heaths, and farmlands and often occupy abandoned nests of rooks and crows.
Both parents take responsibility for raising their young from egg to flight, and they are naturally monogamous.
