Xoaniña voa, voa

The Xoaniña, Maruxiña or Reirrei (Coccinella septempunctata), are small insects, with a small size that goes from 5 to 8 millimeters. Brightly rounded or oval, they are usually bright colors, with black spots on an orange, yellow or red background, in the form of dots or stripes (it is not a shell but thick to the transformed, called elitros, which protect the functional wings for the flight). Some species are hairy.
Since they are useful (they are used to control some pests), they are insects traditionally seen with sympathy and even if they are considered in some places a sign of good luck, and that you kill them is considered a bad omen.
The vivid colors of whites are used to keep predators away, which usually associate bright colors (especially orange and black or yellow and black) with poison. This is called aposematism or aposematic coloration. In fact, some whales are really toxic for small predators, such as lizards or small birds, but not for humans because they are totally harmless, since anyone could grab some without using some kind of personal defense.

They inhabit the leaves of different plant species where they find their food, they are cosmopolitan.

They put the eggs of yellow color one by one, or placed in groups or restras on the leaves. After a week, eggs leave the larvae that have six legs, and great mobility. They are usually thorny and warty, black in color with tiny white and orange spots, although there is a great variety in colors according to the species. These larvae change three times before becoming pupas. Pigeons adhere to leaves, stalks or rocks, and are of orange and black color, and can be confused with bird droppings. From these emerges an adult of yellow color without having yet defined the characteristic colors of the adult; but these appear in a few hours.

On the other hand, whites are much appreciated as they are natural predators of aphids, fleas, mites and cochineal that are pests for agriculture.
An adult baby is estimated to consume more than a thousand of these animals during the summer and if we take into account that a female may have more than one million babies, we will learn about how and why they are considered natural insecticides. In many places in the world they are used for what is called biological control of pests; That is, some animals eliminate others that are harmful to agriculture. Using your natural enemies, instead of using chemicals.
Their natural predators are the birds, but their unpleasant taste preserves them from being ingested.

We sing their song

Xoaniña voa, voa,
que teu pai foi a Lisboa
a comer pan e cebola.
Xoaniña voa, voa
que che hei dar pan de broa.




#tammywhite photography ?
I will give #heartxheart ?
I will only #supportonlyoriginalcontent ?
I will #reportilegalcontent ⚠