A beautiful ladybird is one of the most beneficial insects in your garden.
A ladybird is a type of beetle. Although there are more than 300 species of ladybirds in Australia, varieties commonly found in backyards have shiny black and red or yellow colouring.
The reason they're so useful is they feed on tiny pests called aphids that suck the juice out of roses and other garden plants. Farmers love ladybirds too because they kill crop pests.
After hatching, a ladybird larva looks more like an earwig! But baby ladybirds are as hungry for aphids as their parents are. If there are no aphids to eat, the ladybird larvae feed on unhatched eggs.
| Legal tender | Australia |
| Effigy | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Denomination | $1 |
| Weight | 13.30g |
| Diameter | 30.60mm |
| Thickness | 3.10mm |
| Metal | Al/Bronze |
| Mintage | Unlimited |
| Designer | Elise Martinson |
The coin is encased in a lavish album that also includes:
- 8 other Australian $1 Backyard Bugs coins
- Information and activity booklet
- Handy magnifying glass
- Cool bug stickers
- Colourful bug posters
If it's attacked, a ladybird releases a nasty tasting liquid for protection. Birds have learned that brightly-coloured ladybirds are not very nice to eat.