Why do ladybugs have spots?
For grown-ups: the science
Ladybug spots are part of their color pattern, which can warn animals that the ladybug may taste bad.
Ladybug elytra, the hardened front wings, develop species-specific color patterns. In many species, conspicuous colors and spots contribute to aposematic warning displays because ladybugs can release defensive chemicals that many predators find unpalatable. Spot number and pattern can also help people identify species, though patterns vary and some species are spotless.
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Transcript
A little red ladybug is crawling on a green leaf. Why does it have black spots?
Ladybugs make their colored wing covers as they grow. Different kinds can have different spot patterns.
The bright red, orange, or yellow colors can help warn hungry animals. The colors say, “I may taste yucky!”
A ladybug's spots also help us tell kinds of ladybugs apart. Some ladybugs have no spots at all!
So, ladybug spots are part of their color pattern. They can help warn animals and help us identify ladybugs.