Many of us are aware that the official State bird for New York is the Eastern bluebird (for our friends over in Pennsylvania, theirs is the ruffed grouse). Probably far less folks know that the official State insect for NY is the nine-spotted lady beetle (PA’s is the firefly – a.k.a. lightning bug). Let’s learn a little about New York’s official insect and why it was chosen.

The nine-spotted lady beetle (Coccinella novemnotata) was selected in 1989 to be the Empire State’s official insect. Not long ago it was the most common ladybug in the Northeastern United States. Loss of habitat, competition from invasive lady beetles and, of course, over-use of insecticides has led to tremendous population declines.

The nine-spotted ladybug is now considered rare and is extirpated (completely missing) from certain areas. The problem is so bad that Cornell University started the Lost Ladybug Project in 2000 to raise awareness, track remaining populations and work on reintroduction efforts through captive breeding.

Why should we care about these ladybugs? They prey on soft-bodied pest insects like aphids and scales and are of tremendous benefit to agriculture as a result. If you like to eat vegetables and grains, these lady beetles are your friends.

Just how serious is the problem? In 2006, New York State was considering changing the official state insect to the pink-spotted lady beetle instead, since the nine-spotted was presumed to have been fully extirpated from NY. There were no sightings anywhere in the state between 1982 and 2011, when 20 were found in Amagansett, NY.

Let that sink in for a moment. For 29 years not a single one was found anywhere in the entire State. And this is a lady beetle that was one of the most common insects in the area. Wow.

The nine-spotted lady beetle is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Thankfully, Cornell’s Lost Ladybug Project is helping to study them and reintroduce them. Check out their website and learn more about these important insects. 

Cornell needs our help. If you find any ladybugs, take pictures of them and send the photos in, especially if they may be of the nine-spotted variety. The scientists assigned to the project can’t be everywhere. We can do our part. The website details how to look for lady beetles and where to find them. It’s a great project for young folks to join.

The Lost Ladybug Project is working on a Kid’s Page on their website. Study everything over the Winter months and get ready to go out and find some ladybugs. The website has identification guides, lesson plans for teachers, songs and coloring books. Hop on and check it out!

While researching this column, I was amazed to learn of the severity of the decline in populations of our state insect. Let’s all do what we can to try to find some so that scientists can have more of them available to breed in captivity and can further their efforts to reintroduce nine-spotted lady beetles into the wild.

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van Etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc