Coccinella Novemnotata, the nine- spotted ladybug, is one of 5,000 species of this beloved insect. It was once one of the most common and important ladybugs in the US. It now occupies only a tiny fraction of its former range across the United States and southern Canada. Threats include habitat loss (human encroachment), pesticides, climate change and invasive species. Ladybugs are one of the most important beneficial insects; in just one year they eat over 5,000 bugs, most notably aphids, thus playing a vital role in the management of pests.