Ladybugs & defense

They emit foul-smelling blood from their leg joints when they’re startled.

The spots and bright colors on ladybugs are not for looks alone. They are meant to warn would-be attackers that this beetle tastes terrible. Beyond their warning colors, ladybugs have another line of defense: They emit foul-smelling blood from their leg joints when they’re startled. This yellow liquid is toxic to many ladybug predators such as birds and small mammals.

When all else fails, ladybugs are known to play dead, giving them a third defense mechanism in a world of eat or be eaten.