The weird world of ladybugs

A ladybug sits on a dandelion flower. (Sergei Grits, File/AP Photo)
August 30, 2026

LATEST NEWS

The weird world of ladybugs

We think of ladybugs as cute red beetles associated with good luck and gardening. But the real ladybug story involves poaching, trafficking and a struggle for survival.

Guest

John Losey, director of the Lost Ladybug Project at Cornell University.

Also Featured

Matthew McKernan, consumer horticulture extension associate at Kansas State University.

The version of our broadcast available at the top of this page and via podcast apps is a condensed version of the full show. You can listen to the full, unedited broadcast here:

The first draft of this transcript was created by Descript, an AI transcription tool. An On Point producer then thoroughly reviewed, corrected, and reformatted the transcript before publication. The use of this AI tool creates the capacity to provide these transcripts.

This program aired on August 28, 2026.

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