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Insect Misconceptions and Misinformation |
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Misconceptions/Misinformation
#7: Age is determined in ladybugs by the number of spots on their wings. Examples containing misinformation: Explanation: It is a common folktale that one can tell the age of the ladybug by the number of spots
on its wings. This is just a folktale and there is no truth to the tale. Let's think about this a monment.
I cant't think of any ladybug that lives more than one year. Ladybugs only live one year and die. The least number
of spots on a ladybug's two wings is two (i.e., one spot per wing) while some species lack spots. Does this mean they live
two years in the first case and have not reached the one year mark in the latter? This would mean the beetle woud have to
have only one spot on one wing only. If you remember misconception #2, it was noted that once an insect has wings it
is fully mature and doesn't molt anymore. Thus, any age changes cannot be recorded in the wing pattern or markings. |
