The Seven-spot ladybug is another alien in our collection. It has been introduced to many countries to control aphids. Unfortunately, they carried a disease that is much more harmful to local ladybug species than for themselves. So they took over their space all over the world. An experience we all might have with ladybugs is their smelly ´pee´ which they use to communicate a ´leave me alone´. This appears to be their blood to make things worse now. And this smelly pee has an economical relevance!
So let’s go on a virtual wine tasting seminar. Let’s say we all agree after tasting and discussing, that we find a clear taste of earth, asparagus, or peanut butter. Hmm! How is that possible? It’s likely to be beetle juice! Imagine late summer, almost autumn, the nights getting longer and more chilly. You are a ladybeetle, and you need a place protecting you from the cold wind. Seems grape yards offer free housings! Safe, cozy, and with food right at the doorstep you spend the cool nights in grapes. But then, one early morning, you suddenly end up in the winepress. It’s been too cold for you to move, no chance to escape. That’s the end! And the humans will only complain about your bad taste in their beloved wine. True story! So what’s the limit of beetles we would taste in the wine you might ask. Of course, people checked! The Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Canada, specified a limit of 400 ladybugs per ton of grapes! Assuming 100kg of grapes gives 70kg of wine, we would have 400 bugs in 700kg of wine. That is almost half a ladybug per bottle! Cheers!
Two half beetle!
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