Jolly Old St. Ladybug?

Ladybird Beetles
(Sung to the tune of "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas")
Jolly Ladybug!

Ladybirds have spots or stripes
They're yellow, red or green;
They love to live where there are weeds;
Around the world they're seen.
They're in the Beetle family
And that is no surprise,
Though some folks call them "ladybugs"
Or even "ladyflies"!

Jolly Ladybug!
   They lay their eggs upon a leaf;
    Their Larva is quite small
    With little legs.....the Pupa stage
     Hangs on a leaf or wall.
Their favorite food is aphid pests
    They eat a lot each day;
And from their legs a fluid comes
That drives their foes away.

Jolly Ladybug!
   Each beetle has six jointed legs
     With which it walks or clings;
    It also has two separate pairs
      Of very special wings;
     The first pair is quite hard and tough,
     Protecting what's below:
     Transparent wings that it can use
    To fly where it should go!

Jolly Ladybug!
    About a hundred years ago
      An awful insect pest
   Was spoiling California's fruit
      The farmers had no rest -
    Till someone had a great idea
      And from Australia came
       A beetle that would save the crop:
      The Ladybird by name!

(This song is part of a growing collection of science
songs set to familiar tunes. For more info,
please contact the author HERE).