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Asked by Heidi. Answered by The Get to Know Team.
After handling a ladybug, you might notice a yellowish substance on your hands. This liquid is called hemolymph (HE-mo-limf), which is like insect blood.
When a ladybug feels threatened, it releases a small amount of foul-smelling hemolymph from its legs joints. Much like skunks, ladybugs use unpleasant odours to defend themselves. The strong smell of a ladybug’s “blood” encourages predators, like ants and birds, to leave it alone.
Ladybugs have other methods of making predators leave them alone, too. Their bright red and black pattern warns predators that they are not good to eat.
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