A ladybug hibernates in Tewin, England

© James Pearce/Alam

'Tis the season to snooze. How do ladybugs winter?

Our photo shows a single ladybug taking a winter’s nap near Tewin, England. That’s right, many species of ladybug hibernate over the winter. In Redwood Regional Park near San Francisco, this time of year is ‘ladybug season’—when hikers in the cool, damp woods may spot a large group of ladybugs—called a ‘loveliness’—huddled for warmth and safety, snoozing until spring. Then they’ll wake up and get back to eating more crop-killing aphids—seems reason enough to let that loveliness of ladybugs into your yard.