| MadSci Network: Zoology |
What I remember about ladybugs on this topic is that lady bugs would ooz some stuff out that was stinky. If my memory serves me right the stuff was orange. It would release it when disturbed like picked up or poked at. So, yes I believe it can be seen by the untrained eye. I was a kid when I saw this. Certainly smell is another way to detect it's presence. The stimuli would have to be of a threatening nature to a ladybug. If you use a Q-tip to gently apply pressure to the ladybug you can probably even get some right on the Q-tip and see it there too. This would eliminate your finger being used. You could also use a pen and place the ladybug on filter paper, the filter paper could absorb the amount of relex bleed. You could measure the size of the wet spot. You would need quite a few ladybugs to test as repeated testing of the same insect would not doubt result in the insect becoming acclimated to getting poked. I doubt if the insect would reflex bleed itself to death. No doubt there would be some effect of carbon dioxide as insects need oxygen and would slow down any behaviors due to the lack of oxygen. Just like us. I am sure if you write to some of these scientist they will help you along. Asian ladybugs staining walls http://ceinfo.unh.edu/counties/coos/almhalo.htm firefly reflex bleeding! http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Aug97/luredandliquidated.hrs.html a picture of one bleeding http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/candy.rowe/ And lastly http://boisdarc.tamu-commerce.edu/www/d/dees/LadyBeetles.html
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