The chemical ecology of ladybird beetles

Ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) use a wide variety of semiochemicals to communicate with each other, e.g. finding a mate, protecting themselves from predation or cannibalism, finding a shelter to overwinter or ensuring a better survival for their offspring. But chemical communication upon ladybeetles has also found recently to occur with their prey, their prey-host plants and even within their interactions with their natural enemies. Thorough studies on ladybird behaviours towards these compounds could lead to their practical implementation in integrated strategies using ladybirds to control pests, like aphids or mealybugs.