THERE is estimated to be over 10 million different species of insects living on earth. In fact, there are so many that no-one knows the true figure.

In Britain alone, there is thought to be at least 20,000 different species, bearing in mind that this figure does not include the huge wealth of spiders, centipedes and other invertebrate species that are out there. We can all be excused, therefore, from being vastly ignorant when it comes to attempting to identify that curious insect, which has just presented itself to us.

There are a few insects however that are so common and have such distinctive colours that most people are able to identify them.

One of these is the ladybird. Their bright colours, striking patterns, harmless-looking appearance and reputation for being the gardener's friend, mean that most of us consider the ladybird to be one of nature's more friendly insects.

What many take for granted though, is that much of what we think we know about the ladybird is more myth than truth. For instance, one of the common myths that I have heard is that the number of spots it has signifies its age.

In fact, a ladybird's life span is in reality quite a short one of only a few months as an adult. The number of spots actually indicates what species it is. There are spotted ladybirds as well as striped, streaked, eyed and plain species. As for their harmless appearance, the bright striking colours of the ladybird are not for our enjoyment, but to warn would-be predators that at worst it is poisonous or at least very distasteful. Its harmless image is further tarnished by its particularly violent lifestyle.

Ladybirds and their lava are ferocious predators specialising in feeding on aphids. Those of you who have had a close look at aphids may view them as rather helpless creatures, but they certainly put up a fight when faced with a marauding ladybird. If you ever get the chance to watch such a conflict you can observe the aphid frantically kicking first, then the horn-like structure on its back exudes a chemical that seems to befuddle the ladybird, thus allowing the aphid to make an escape. This also alerts other aphids in the vicinity of the presence of a threat.

Ants farm some aphid colonies and are rather protective of their aphids. Being quite aggressive and well-armed insects themselves, there are some quite epic battles that unfold between the ants and ladybirds. Ladybirds will use their hard body armour and ability to retract their head and legs into grooves in this armour to frustrate the ants attempt to repel them.

On a smooth leaf surface this is most effective, however, if a group of ants can grip hold of the edge of the ladybird's body armour, then with quite an amazing show of strength they are able to lift up the ladybird and hurl it to the ground.